Introduction: Neonatal jaundice is a common condition in newborns. Neonatal jaundice is usually treatable, but it may cause kernicterus that leads to bilirubin encephalopathy The aim of this study was to examine the effect of massage, tub bath and sponge bath on bilirubin levels of newborn infants with hyperbilirubinemia.
Methods: This is a randomized controlled experimental study. This study was conducted with 140 newborns in the 34th and following weeks of gestation who were receiving phototherapy in the neonatal intensive care unit of a university hospital in eastern Turkey. The newborns were given a either massage (n = 35), a tub bath (n = 35) or a sponge bath (n = 35) by the researcher. Except for routine clinical procedures, no other procedures were administered to the newborns in the control group (n = 35). The total bilirubin values of the newborns were measured using non-invasive bilirubin device before the procedures, and six hours and 12 h after.
Results: This study found that there was a significant difference between the bilirubin levels in massage (3.82 +/- 1.78; p = 0.000), sponge bath (4.42 +/- 1.30; p = 0.000), tub bath (3.63 +/- 1.50; p = 0.000) and control groups (7.62 +/- 2.54; p = 0.000). A similar case was observed in the duration of receiving phototherapy mean scores in massage (13.60 +/- 2.45; p = 0.000), sponge bath (20.05 +/- 0.72; p = 0.000), tub bath (16.97 +/- 1.75; p = 0.000) and control groups (32.05 +/- 9.03; p = 0.000).
Conclusions: In this study, the bilirubin levels and the duration of phototherapy treatment of newborns decreased most rapidly in the massage group, followed by tub bath group and sponge bath group.