PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of sensory stimulation on premature infants.
METHOD
Thirty three premature infants admitted to NICU of D University Hospital in C city were randomly assigned in two groups (Experimental group: 16, Control group:17). For the experimental group, tactile and kinesthetic stimulation developed by Dr. Field was applied 2 times a day for 10 days. Behavioral state was measured using the Anderson Behavioral State Scale (ABSS). Heart rate, respiration, and oxygen saturation were obtained for each infant before and after sensory stimulation. Hypothesis testing was done using the X2- test, student t-test, and repeated measures of ANOVA.
Result
Hypothesis 1: There was a significant difference in the daily body weight gain between experimental and control group (F= 40.77, p= .0001). Hypothesis 2: There was a significant difference in the frequency of 'inactive awake state' between two groups (X2= 39.778, p= .001). Hypothesis 3: There were significant differences in the mean of heart rate and O2 saturation between two groups (t= -2.174, p= .037; t= 3.080, p= .005). However, there was no significant difference in the mean of respiration rate between two groups (t= -1.966, p= .581).
CONCLUSION
The effectiveness of a sensory stimulation on weight gain and behavioral state in premature infants was supported. Further study is recommended to develop a sensory stimulation method as an independent nursing intervention for premature infant.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of a sensory stimulation program on the growth (weight, height, head circumference, and chest circumference), behavioral development, behavioral states, and the heart rate of the infants. A total of 23 infants of 2 weeks old were divided into sensory stimualtion group (11 infants) and control group (12 infants). The infants of sensory stimulation group had received sensory stimulation for 6 weeks. Sensory stimulation program was composed of tactile and kinesthetic stimulation. We assessed growth, behavioral state and heart rate every week and behavioral development every 2 weeks. The results were as follows: 1. Body weight in sensory stimulation group, from two weeks after the sensory stimulation program, was significantly increased more than control group, but there was no significant difference in height, head circumference, and chest circumference between the two groups. 2. Behavioral developmental score of sensory stimulation group was significantly higher than that of control group from two weeks after the sensory stimulation program. Developmental states of sensory stimulation group showed more 'high average developmental state' than the control group from 4 weeks after sensory stimulation program. 3. Behavioral states of sensory stimulation group after the sensory stimulation program, the 'sleeping state' was significantly increased more than control group. The 'awakening state' and the state of fuss or crying were significantly less than those of the control group. 4. The heart rate of the sensory stimulation group after the sensory stimulation was significantly lower than the control group. These results indicate that the sensory stimulation program decreases heart rate and improves the sleeping state to be effective on promoting the growth and development of the infants. In view of these experiments, we suggest sensory stimulation program might be considered as a nursing intervention for growth and development of the infants not only in clinical settings but also at homes and in the communities.

This study has been conducted on the nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design in quasi experimental basis and newly born premature infants from intensive care unit of G Medical University Hospital in Inchon Metropolitan were selected in two groups of 21 infants each. The first group for experimental and the other for control. Data has been collected form October 30, 1997 to August 29, 1998. For the experimental group tactile and kinesthetic stimulation was applied 2 times a day for 10 days(10:00~11:00 hours in the morning and 17:00~18:00 in the afternoon). As a weight weighing instrument, electronic indicator scale(Cas Co, Korea) was used. To determine urine cortisol concentration level in stress hormone, radio immuno assay method was used. And high performance liquid chlomatogarphy was used to determine urine norepinephrine, concentration level. To determine behavior status, tools developed by anderson et al(1990) and remodeled by Kim Hee-Sook(1996) were used. Collected data were analyzed with the SAS program using x2-test, student t-test, repeated measures ANOVA and paired t-test. The result were as follow. 1. As for the daily weight gain, the experimental group showed first change in weight and this group also showed higher weight in the average weight than the control group. Statistically, however, there was no significant factor between the two groups. 2. The cortisol concentration in urine showed decrease in the experimental group norepinephrine concentration in urine showed increase in both experimental and control groups. No statistical significance was shown between the two groups. 3. In the aspect of behavior status, the experimental group showed statistical significance by showing inactive in the state of alert and conversion to a positive state than the control group. In conclusion, the sensory stimulation in this study showed a positive aspect through there was no statistical significance n the weight gain and urine stress hormone concentration. In the behavior status, there was statistical significance in the frequency of staying inactive in the state of alert and conversion to a positive state.