Effect of Optimal Humidification for Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants During Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of Optimal humidification during Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (nCPAP) for Extremely Low Birth Weight Infant (ELBWI). METHODS: The study design was a pre-test-post-test nonequivalent nonsynchronized quasi-experimental design. The participants were 218 ELBWI on nCPAP (experimental group 102 and control group 116). Data collection was conducted from January 2005 to April 2010. In order to measure and analyze the nCPAP duration, reintubation and nasal condition, Chi-square test and t-test were used. RESULTS: Hypothesis 1, that the duration with nCPAP in the experimental group is longer than that of the control group and hypothesis 2-3, that the rate of reintubation and nasal problems in the experimental group are lower than the control group, were all supported as there were statistically significant differences between two groups. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the Optimal humidification in this study is an efficient intervention because it helps increase the last time of nCPAP with ELBWI and minimize complications. It is expected that Optimal humidification is beneficial and helpful in preventing and caring for respiratory problems in these infants.