ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effect of therapeutic touch(massage)on the neuTobehavior of preterm infants.Methods Sixty preterm infants( gestafional age in 31-36 weeks),through natural delivery or caesarean section were randomly assigned to therapeutic touch group(n=30)and control group(n=30).Both groups re-ceived routine pharmacothempy and nursing care and followed up for half a year from discharge.Touch group re-ceived additional whole-body massage.All subjects were evaluated with neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA)in one month after birth-and mental development index(MDI), psyehomotor development index(PDI)in 3 months and 6 months after birth.Results The NBNA scores(P<0.01),as well as MDI and PDI(P<0.05)were significantly higher in therapeutic touch group than the control.Conclusion Therapeutic touch intervention im-proves nervous system of preterm infants.