The Effects of Field massage on urine cortisol level in premature infants: clinical trial

The Stresses in the infant's intensive care unit are harmful for premature infants. The present study carried out with the aim of comparing the effect of massage with Field technique on the Cortisol level of urine which is premature infant's stress level.
This clinical trial study was performed on 51 infants in Al-Zahra hospital in Tabriz. The infants were divided to two groups randomly. The first group was the infants who were received massage with Field technique by their mothers for 5 day and three time in a day and 15 minutes each time. The second group was the infants who received normal care. The urine was collected for both groups on first and sixth days and the level of cortisol was measured.
The results showed that there was a significant difference between cortisol level on first and sixth days (P= 0.001), and also there was statically difference between the mean cortisol of massage and control groups (P= 0.001).
Massage of premature infants with field technique is suggested as an evolutionary supportive care and a safe method in the neonatal intensive care unit.