Rıdvan AKDOĞAN, Yusuf GÜRGAN, Mehmet Emin DÜKEN
The European Research Journal - 2026;12(8):834-846
Objective: This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effects of structured massage therapy on sleep quality, stress, comfort, and physiological parameters in late preterm infants. Methods: Forty late preterm infants (35-37 gestational weeks) were randomly allocated to a massage group (n=20) or a control group (n=20). The intervention group received a standardized 15-minute massage three times daily for three consecutive days. Data were collected using physiological monitoring, the Premature Infant Comfort Scale (PICS), the Neonatal Stress Scale (NSS), and actigraphy (SOMNOwatch(TM)). This study was conducted in the neonatal intensive care units of Van Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, between September 2024 and September 2025, and was approved by the relevant institutional ethics committee in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Results: Massage therapy significantly improved physiological stability, demonstrated by lower heart rate and respiratory rate and higher oxygen saturation compared to controls (P<0.05). Post-intervention comfort scores were significantly higher in the massage group (P=0.002). Significant within-group improvements were observed in sleep and stress parameters (P<0.001); however, no statistically significant between-group differences were identified (P>0.05). Conclusion: Massage therapy is an effective and clinically relevant non-pharmacological intervention for enhancing physiological stability and comfort in late preterm infants. Although improvements in sleep and stress were comparable to routine care, the significant improvement in comfort supports its integration into neonatal nursing protocols to optimize immediate clinical outcomes and neurobehavioral organization.
