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Introduction: The use of complementary and alternative therapy is increasing and touch is one of them but several studies have indicated that premature neonates hospitalized in neonatal intensive care unit receive very little touch. The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of touch on arterial blood oxygen saturation in neonates with respiratory distress syndrome. Materials and Methods: This is a clinical trial with repeated measures that was performed on 37 neonates with respiratory distress syndrome. An information record form was used for data collection. The information record form was consisted of two parts: demographic information and a table for recording oxygen saturations. Oxygen saturation was measured by Nelkor pulse oxy meter. Information was collected in 3 sequential days. Arterial blood oxygen saturation was controlled 5 minutes before touch, then samples undergone 5 minutes touch and then in 5 and 15 minute intervals arterial blood oxygen saturation was controlled again. Data was analyzed using repeated measure ANOVA. Results: Findings showed that in the first day, arterial blood oxygen saturation in 5 minutes before, and 5 and 15 minutes after touch were 95/67, 95/91, 96 respectively. In second day, arterial blood and oxygen saturation in 5 minutes before, and 5 and 15 minutes after touch were 95/72, 96/05, 96/08 respectively. In third day, arterial blood oxygen saturation in 5 minutes before, and 5 and 15 minutes after touch were 95/75, 96/16, 96/13 respectively. Arterial blood oxygen saturation in 5 and 15 minutes after touch were more than 5 minutes before touch in each 3 day(p<0.01). But there was no significant difference between 5 and 15 minutes after touch. Data analysis also showed no significant difference comparing arterial blood oxygen saturation in the 3 days. Conclusion: Findings suggested that premature neonates physiologically responded to touch. Nurses working in NICUs must be educated about the importance of touch in providing care for these neonates. Findings showed that touch is useful for premature neonates and this fact can be a start point for other investigations.

Keywords: Touch, arterial blood oxygen saturation, respiratory distress syndrome, premature neonate

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