Relationship between Energy Expenditure and Stress Behaviors of Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Relationship between Energy Expenditure and

Stress Behaviors of Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Niang-Huei Peng

, Ph.D, RN; Hong-Chin Lin

,MD.; Li-Chi Huang3, Ed D., RN.;

Tsai-Chung Li

, Ph.D.; Chau-Huei Chen

, MD.; Teh-Ming Wang, MD

; Jean Bachman

, DNS, RN.

1.

Nursing College in Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology in Taiwan;

2

Division of Neonatology in China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan;

3

China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan ;

4

Taichung Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan;

5

College of Nursing, University of Missouri- St. Louis (U.S.A)

Background:

Neonatal stress increases energy expenditure and may affect the

outcomes of healing, recovery from illness, and growth. The behavioral cues are routinely used to monitor infant’s stress levels. Behaviors are infants’ only means of communicating their needs and responses to

their environment, and they may be closely correlated to increasing

energy expenditure during periods of environmental stress. However, there is little research to validate this assumption.

Aim:

This research evaluated the relationship between behaviors and energy expenditure in preterm infants receiving nursing interventions.

Methods:

This study was an explorative secondary data analysis from a previous study. The current study investigated energy expenditure calculated

using Heart-based Energy Expenditure-estimate (HR-based EE- estimate).

Results:

Research results indicate that preterm infants expend more energy when they show the following seven behaviors: grimace, sucking, diffusion

squirm, fist, gape face, salute, and sneezing.

Practice Implications:

The interventions during this critical medical time should be flexible, according to infant’s stress behaviors and conditions of energy

expenditure.

Key words:

Preterm Infants, Energy Expenditure, Behaviors, Nursing Interventions