The Effect of Kangaroo Care on Weight and Stress Hormone(Cortisol) in Premature Infants

캉가루식 돌보기가 미숙아의 체중과 스트레스 호르몬[코티졸]에 미치는 영향

Purpose: This study, using a pre-posttest design of non-equivalence comparative groups, was done to determine effects of KC (kangaroo care) on weight and SH (stress hormone) of premature infants. Method: Participants were 31 premature infants assigned to KC(14) or CG(control group)(17). Data were collected from June 2006 to February 2007. KC was given for 60 minutes at a time, Mon, Wed, and Fri for a 10 times. Body weight was measured at a fixed time daily and serum cortisol was examined as part of routine blood testing, frequent for premature infants. Results: The weight for infants in the KC group was higher than the control. The difference was significant between both the two groups, and the 2 measurement times(F=12.7, p=.001). SH(cortisol) in infants of KC group decreased than CG, but there was no valid difference from the statistical viewpoint. Conclusion: The result of the study suggest that KC contributes to weight increase in premature infants and also that KC is effective for SH reduction in spite of the lack of statistical validity. Therefore, our conclusion is that KC can be used as an independent nursing intervention for development and advance of premature infants.