Affiliations: Medical School, Neonatal Research Center, Mashhad
University of Medical Science, and NICU of Emamreza Hospital, Mashhad,
Iran | Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Neonatal Research
Center, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran | Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University
of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran | Biostatistics Department, Mashhad University of
Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran
Note: [] Corresponding author: Rana Amiri, Neonatal Research Center,
NICU, Emamreza Hospital, Mashhad, Iran. Tel.: +98 5112709006; E-mail: amirir1@mums.ac.ir
Abstract: Objectives: The environment plays a key role in survival and brain
development for premature infants. Recent interest lends consideration to non
pharmacological interventions as a beneficial alternative. This study seeks to
investigate the effect of lullaby music on the physiological response and
weight gain of premature infants in Mashhad, Iran. Method: In this study,
44 very low birth weight infants ⩽ 34 weeks of gestational age that were
admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Imamreza Hospital in
Mashhad, Iran were enrolled. Infants were randomly assigned to one of two
groups: the Music group and the Control group. Lullaby music was played through
earphones for the Music group. This continued for 8 days at 20 minutes per day.
The Control group received routine auditory stimulation. Neonates in the two
groups were in stable condition and kept in their isolettes. Infants were
monitored for 40 minutes; 10 minutes baseline, 20 minutes into the intervention
and 10 minutes post intervention. Data measures were heart rate, respiration
rate, oxygen saturation and body weight. Result: The two groups differed
significantly in the respiratory rate (p= 0.01) and oxygen saturation (p=
0.001). There were no significant differences in the heart rate (p= 0.24) and
weight gain (p= 0.093) between the two groups. Conclusion: Preterm infants respond to lullaby music as evidenced by the changes in their
respiratory rates and oxygen saturations. Although this study did not
demonstrate an improvement in weight gain, further studies are recommended to
examine the effect of music on other growth and developmental aspects
Keywords: Lullaby music, physiologic response, weight gain, preterm infants
