To explore the influence of light illumination on physical parameters and behavioral state of preterm within the incubator.

• Main Authors: Peng niang-huei, 彭孃慧
• Other Authors: Hsin-Chun Mao
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2000
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/45138485130606131897

碩士 === 國防醫學院 === 護理研究所 === 88 === Abstract This study primarily investigated on how the following physiological parameters, including heart rate, respiration rate, blood oxygen saturation level and behavioral state, are influenced by the light intensity being put on the premature babies in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) incubator. The study adopt the repeated measuring design and study''s objectives were include : 1. How to measure the physiological parameters of premature babies in the NICU incubators. 2. How to evaluate the behavioral patterns of premature babies in the NICU incubators. 3. How about the change of physiological parameters under reduced environmental light. 4.How about the change of behavior pattern under reduced environmental light. 5.How about the physiological parameters under changed light intensities. 6.How about the behavior pattern under changed light intensities. A blanket of cloth covering the incubator was used to reduce the light intensity. In each experiment, lasting for 20 minutes, with or without the shielding blanket, study continuously measured physiological parameters, including heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation levels and evaluated the behavioral state. Photometer was used to measure the intensity of light and phonometer for the environmental noise level. Temperature was keep steady in the incubator. Besides photometer and phonometer, V8 camera, heart rate and respiratoral rate monitor, blood oxygen monitor, and the APIB was developmented by Als(1986) were used in this study. Premature babies were chosen from three district hospitals NICU in northern Taiwan. The premature babies chosen were before or equal to 37 weeks gestation ,birth weight of less than 2500gm and between 2 days old to 28 days old. On the day of experiment, they could not take any medication able to affect consciousness or receive any kind of medical procedures during the meals. Those received phototherapy or depended on respirator were excluded. During experiment, the premature babies lay on supine position with head elevated 20 degrees and fixed with nested pillow. For each baby, the experiment was conducted for 20 minutes each time, once in a week and lasted for a whole 4 months. A total of 35 premature babies were included in this study. The study implements descriptive statistics to analyze the data obtained. GEE (General estimation equation) is used to analyze the effects of light intensity exerted on the premature babies. The study shows that for premature babies there is a significant statistical relationship between light intensity and physiological parameters (p=.00). As the intensity of light increases, they were noted to have increased heart rate and respiratoral rate but decreased blood oxygen level. Besides these changes, behavioral state including light sleep and stress symptoms were noted. Furthermore, this study shows that a shielding blanket covering the incubator above and the sides (one third of area at least) could effectively reduce the light intensity which is supposed to be harmful to the premature babies.