The effect of developmentally supportive positioning (DSP) on preterm infants’ stress levels

Abstract

Research has proven that developmentally supportive care (DSC) improves the developmental outcomes for preterm infants. Available evidence regarding the similar effect of one of its principles, developmentally supportive positioning (DSP), was inconclusive, which lead to this study. The study was conducted in two phases: firstly, the Hennessy Stress Scale for the Preterm Infant was developed and, secondly, using a within-subject design, the effects of DSP on the stress levels of preterm infants were measured. Using the Hennessy Stress Scale for the Preterm Infant, observed qualitative data could be quantified to reflect the infant's stress levels as a percentage. Nonprobability sampling was used to select twenty-two preterm infants of gestational age < 37 weeks. The stress levels of these infants, who were admitted to a specific neonatal intensive care unit and not sedated, were observed before and after the implementation of DSP, and were then quantified, and recorded. The pre-test (infants without DSP) and post-test (same infants with DSP) mean stress level scores were 29.07% vs. 16.87% (mean shift of 12.2% and standard deviation of 3.97%), which were significantly different (p < 0.0001; Student's paired t-test). The conclusion was that DSP significantly decreases premature infants' stress levels.