Clinical Research Directory

ShotBlocker and Warm Gel Pack During Neonatal Heel Prick (HEAL)

This study evaluated the effects of ShotBlocker and a warm gel pack on pain, comfort, and physiological parameters during heel prick testing in healthy term newborns. A three-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted at a city hospital between October 2024 and October 2025. Newborns were randomly assigned to the ShotBlocker group, warm gel pack group, or routine care group. Pain was assessed using the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS), and comfort was assessed using the COMFORTneo. Heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and heel temperature were also measured before and after the procedure. The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of these non-pharmacological interventions during routine heel prick testing.

HEARTBEAT SOUND FOR BREASTFEEDİNG DİFFİCULTİES: A RANDOMİZED CONTROLLED TRİAL

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of listening to a pre-recorded, standardized maternal heartbeat sound on perceived stress levels and breastfeeding self-efficacy in mothers experiencing early breastfeeding difficulties. The study will be conducted in the postpartum service of a tertiary hospital. The results are expected to contribute to easily applicable, non-invasive, and supportive care approaches for breastfeeding support.

Noninvasive High Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation Versus Nasal Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation for Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Preterm Neonates

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if nasal high frequency oscillatory ventilation (nHFOV) works no worse than nasal intermittent mandatory ventilation (NIMV) as early breathing support. The study will include preterm babies born from 28 weeks through 36 weeks of gestation..All babies will have respiratory distress syndrome and need noninvasive breathing support within six hours of birth. Noninvasive support helps breathing through a nasal interface without placing a tube in the windpipe. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does nHFOV work no worse than NIMV in preventing the need for a breathing tube within 72 hours? What medical problems occur in babies receiving each type of breathing support? Researchers will compare nHFOV with NIMV. nHFOV uses rapid, small pressure waves. NIMV provides regular supported breaths. Both methods are routinely used at the study hospital. Babies will: Be assigned by chance to receive either nHFOV or NIMV Receive regular monitoring of breathing, oxygen levels, and medical condition Be assessed for the need for a breathing tube during the first 72 hours Be followed for complications of disease and assigned treatment during hospitalization and after discharge when required The study will also record breathing support duration, hospital stay, survival, chronic lung disease, severe bleeding in the brain, and eye disease related to prematurity. The findings may help doctors choose breathing support for preterm babies with respiratory distress syndrome.

The Effect of Different Music Listened During Retinopathy Examination to Premature Infants

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP); It is a disease of premature and low birth weight infants, characterized by incomplete vascularization of the retina, etiology and pathogenesis of which is unknown, and causes vision loss. There is an increase in the incidence and severity of ROP development in direct proportion to the decrease in birth week and birth weight. While ROP is a problem below 32 weeks of gestation in developed countries, it is reported to develop severely up to 34 weeks of gestation in developing countries. In a multicenter study conducted by the Turkish Neonatology Society in our country, the frequency of ROP in very low birth weight preterm infants was found to be 42%, and the frequency of advanced ROP was 11%. The incidence of ROP in babies with a gestational age of 33-35 weeks was 6.1%, and advanced ROP was 6 per thousand. The frequency of ROP was found to be 10.3% in babies with a birth weight of 1500-2000 grams, and severe ROP was reported in 19 of these babies. ROP examination is a procedure that causes pain, deterioration in comfort and physiological changes in preterm newborns. After this examination, an increase in blood pressure and heart rate and a decrease in oxygen saturation are observed. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological (non-pharmacological) methods are used to reduce the pain and increase the comfort level of the premature newborn. As a pharmacological method, there is no other routine method used to reduce pain other than the administration of local anesthetic drops before the examination. Because of this situation, nurses apply various non-pharmacological methods to alleviate pain. These methods are; breast milk, sucrose use, oral dextrose use, non-nutritive sucking, positioning, listening to music and mother's voice. In the literature, no specific study was found in which music was used to reduce pain and increase the comfort level during the ROP examination. Therefore, this research will be carried out to determine the effect of different music played on the pain and comfort level of premature babies during the retinopathy examination.

The Effect of Maternal Voice and Music Therapy on Pain and Stress During Heel Prick Testing in Newborns

During the adaptation process to the extrauterine environment, healthy newborns face procedures such as hepatitis B vaccination, vitamin K injection, blood sugar monitoring, bilirubin or metabolic disease screening. Heel prick blood sampling, performed for diagnostic purposes, is one of the most frequently performed procedures on newborns. Studies show that heel prick blood sampling holds an important place among invasive procedures performed on newborns. The heel prick blood sampling procedure, frequently performed on newborns, is... It has been reported that pain perception causes stress, and consequently, an increase in heart rate (HR) and blood pressure, a decrease in oxygen saturation (SpO2), and crying Following routine invasive procedures that cause pain, such as heel prick blood tests, children may experience negative physiological, metabolic, and behavioral responses as stress, duration, and intensity of pain increase. Increases in heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure are observed due to the release of catecholamines, glucagon, and steroids following painful stimuli, and these physiological changes observed in response to pain are thought to play a role in initiating ischemic changes by leading to intraventricular hemorrhage and white matter damage around the ventricle. If pain is not effectively relieved or eliminated during this period, it can lead to neurological and behavioral disorders in later stages. Excessive and prolonged pain, particularly that resulting from invasive procedures, causes behavioral stress and physiological imbalances. It is believed that any painful invasive procedure can hinder a child's behavior, feeding habits, interaction with the mother, and adaptation to the environment. Furthermore, experiencing pain can influence subsequent pain behaviors, leading to a lifelong sensitivity to pain in the child. To reduce the effects of invasive procedures on newborns, effective pain management is divided into two categories: pharmacological and non-pharmacological. Non-pharmacological pain management strategies in children are defined as any strategy or technique applied to a child in pain to reduce their experience of pain. Recorded maternal voice and maternal heartbeat listening, music therapy are some of the non-pharmacological methods used in children. Music therapy is noted as one of the non-pharmacological methods widely used in postoperative analgesia, possessing effects such as increasing endorphin release, reducing catecholamine levels and thus decreasing the need for analgesics, stabilizing heart rhythm and respiratory rate, maintaining hemodynamic balance, influencing regional cardiac activity, and lowering blood pressure.

Dry Cord Care Versus Alcohol Cord Care in Healthy Newborns

Umbilical cord care is an essential component of newborn care, but the optimal method remains controversial. This randomized controlled trial aims to compare routine alcohol cord care with natural dry cord care in healthy newborns. A total of 210 mother-infant dyads will be randomly assigned to either routine alcohol cord care or natural dry cord care. The primary outcome is the incidence of umbilical cord infection. Secondary outcomes include umbilical cord separation time, bacterial colonization, and healthcare resource utilization for umbilical cord care. The findings of this study will provide evidence to support optimal umbilical cord care practices for healthy newborns.

Normative Radiographic Parameters and Growth Curve of Hips Less Than Six Weeks of Gestational Age Using Ultrasound

This study aims to collect normative population data on the ultrasound radiographic parameters used to evaluate hip dysplasia in infants between 32 and 46 weeks of gestational age. This data would be utilized to develop a growth chart with standard deviations for this cohort that would be beneficial in the appropriate treatment of suspected hip dysplasia.

Comparison of Peripheral Perfusion Level Between Two Groups of Newborns According to Their Infectious Status Defined by the Criteria of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Despite advances in medicine, secondary neonatal infection remains a continuing concern because of the associated high morbidity and mortality. The usual mechanism of infection responds to the transmission of germs by the equipment used for care (eg, catheters) and by the hands of caregivers. In preterm infants in particular, some infections can also have an endogenous source, by translocation of colonization germs present in the digestive tract. The first line of prevention of secondary infection corresponds to compliance with the rules of hand hygiene, work surfaces and equipment carried out, the effect of which on the control of the incidence of secondary infection is regularly demonstrated. When declared, bacterial infection should be treated as quickly as possible with appropriate and effective antibiotics to preserve the healing prognosis. Compared to the infant and the larger child, clinical signs of calling are atypical and discrete. In the absence of staff trained to monitor newborns specifically, there is a real risk of discovering the existence of the infection only at an advanced stage corresponding, among other things, to circulatory collapse. This risk is not completely excluded, even with experienced practitioners, because the positive signs are rude and may go unnoticed (eg, signs of calling such as fever are rare in the newborn). Support for early diagnosis of neonatal infection by automatic monitoring systems has reduced mortality by 30% in the units where it has been applied. This is probably due to the fact that early warning made it possible to start the antibiotic treatment earlier and to complete the bacteriological diagnosis in order to better orient the therapeutic attitude. The best criteria for early diagnosis by automated systems were provided by the statistical analysis of cardiac variability, the results of the research and correspond to the standard deviation, the asymmetry and the entropy of the series d Cardiac intervals. Since microbial aggression has an impact on many vegetative variables outside of the electrocardiogram, our current research aims to determine whether the analysis of the perfusion index (PI) Which are of interest for detecting disturbances in the early stages of infection in newborns. IP corresponds to the ratio of the amplitude of the oscillating phase to the intensity of the constant part of the opto-plethysmography wave; It is obtained from signals recorded in a non-invasive manner by the same infrared sensor for pulse oximetry.

The Effect of Pre-Breastfeeding Breathing Exercises on Maternal Anxiety, Well-being, and Infant Stress in Mothers Whose Infants Are in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Aim: This study was conducted to examine the effects of breathing exercises on maternal anxiety, well-being, and infant stress. Materials and Methods: The research was initiated in a hospital in eastern Turkey between November 2024 and November 2026, after obtaining ethical committee and institutional approvals. The study population consisted of mothers whose babies were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of that hospital.The generally available G\*Power 3.1.9.7 for Windows software was used to calculate the sample size. Similar literature studies were referenced when determining the sample size of the research (Shamsdanesh et al., 2023). Furthermore, after the research is completed, a post-hoc power analysis will be performed on the main dependent variable, maternal anxiety level (MAL), to determine the power of the study (approximately 35 experimental, 35 control). The aim of the research is to ensure that the resulting sample size has sufficient statistical power to reveal the effect being examined. The research data is collected using a Demographic Information Form, prepared by the researcher through a literature review, the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Psychological Well-being Scale, and the Neonatal Stress Scale. Mothers perform this exercise three times a day for two days (days 1 and 2), under the supervision of a researcher. The four-square breathing exercise is a non-pharmacological pain reliever that has been shown to be beneficial in conditions other than pain. Each breathing exercise lasts 5-10 minutes. Mothers in the experimental group are given a questionnaire before the start of the study and after the exercise on days 1 and 2. Mothers in the control group are given only a questionnaire before the start of the study, at the end of day 1, and at the end of day 2. Mothers in the control group do not perform the four-square breathing exercise and receive routine hospital care. At the end of both days, mothers in the control group who wish to practice the breathing exercise are given the opportunity to do so.

Non-Anesthetized Plexus Technique for Infant (BPBP) MRI Evaluation

The investigators are studying the ability of a novel rapid magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol to provide more accurate and earlier information about whether an infant with brachial plexus birth palsy will require nerve surgery.

The Effect of Wiping Bath Training on Early Bathing, Body Temperature and Umbilical Cord Fall Time in Newborns

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of wiping bath training on early bathing, body temperature and umbilical cord shedding time in newborns. This study was planned in a randomized controlled experimental research design. The study will be conducted with pregnant women who applied to the pregnancy schools of Kahramanmaraş Necip Fazıl City Hospital Gynecology and Obstetrics Additional Service building. When calculating the sample size, a similar study previously conducted on the subject was taken as a reference and the G\*Power 3.1.9.7 program was used (Ayyıldız et al, 2015). In the calculation made; the sample size of the study was found to be at least 36, and considering the parametric distribution, it was planned to complete the study with a total of 60 people, 30 in each group. Considering the possible case losses (10%), it is planned to include a total of 66 women (intervention group: 33, control group: 33). In the study, women will be assigned to groups according to the previously determined randomization number sequences, and then the Pregnant Information Form will be filled out by the participants using the face-to-face interview method. The determined practices will be carried out according to the group to which the participants are assigned. The hospital's pregnancy information class will be used for the training, and if there is another planned training in the pregnancy school, an empty room determined by the hospital administration will be used. The pregnant women in the intervention group will be explained the newborn wiping and bathing application stages by the researcher in groups of 2-3 people on a newborn model, and then the pregnant women will be asked to apply the bath individually on the model. The pregnant women in the control group will be subject to routine hospital protocol and no other intervention will be made. After the birth, the participants will be called by phone and the "Newborn Characteristics Information Form" will be filled out by phone and the participants will be asked to provide information by phone message after the umbilical cord falls off. After the umbilical cord falls off, the participants will be called by phone and the first bath time, umbilical cord falling off time and the body temperature of their babies (before the bath, immediately after the bath and 10 minutes after the bath) will be recorded by asking the mothers on the given follow-up form.

The Effect of Skin-to-Skin Contact Based on Clinical Guidelines

Newborn health indicators are important data that provide information about the welfare level of countries. Health professionals and relevant institutions have important responsibilities in protecting, developing and ensuring the continuity of newborn health. Health professionals use evidence-based practices revealed by scientific studies in their care approaches. Care and follow-up immediately after birth are very important. When the investigators look at the neonatal mortality rate in our country in 2019, it is shown as 5.3 per thousand and 5 per thousand in 2020. Therefore, neonatal-specific programs and practices need to be strengthened in order to reduce both neonatal and postneonatal death rates. Midwives are the professional group that is with both the mother and the newborn during the birth and postpartum period, can initiate breastfeeding in the early period, and ensure optimal continuation of breastfeeding. It is very important that the basic health indicators of the newborn improve and that the mother and newborn are monitored at certain standards during and after birth. These monitoring must be done according to the criteria. Genç et al. in 2022 to initiate and maintain skin-to-skin contact with the newborn during the postpartum period. (2023) skin-to-skin contact will be made between the mother and the newborn in accordance with the "Skin-to-Skin Contact and Kangaroo Care Clinical Practice Guide".

Optimizing Sleep Maternal-Offspring Bonding and Sleep in the Maternity Ward

The quality of sleep in maternity wards is crucial for the mental and physical health of the mother, as well as for the development of secure mother to infant bonding. The introduction of "co-dodo" cribs, although scarcely studied, may influence sleep quality in both the mother and the newborn infant. Objective : This study aims at evaluating the impact of a co-dodo crib on the sleep quality of the newborn infant, her mother and the mother-infant bonding, compared to a control group with mother using a standard crib. This observational, randomized, controlled, multicenter study will include adult mother, breastfeeding and hospitalized in maternity wards after full-term delivery (≥ 37 weeks of gestation). Participant will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a co-dodo crib or a standard crib for their newborn infant during their maternity STAI-Y. Actigraphic data will be used for non-invasive sleep assessment in both the newborn infant and the mother. Validated self-reported questionnaires will evaluate maternal stress, sleep quality, post-partum depression risk and mother-infant bonding. • Hypothesis : We hypothesize that using a co-dodo crib compared to a standard crib may improve the newborn and mother sleep quality, decrease the mother stress and enhance the mother to infant bonding.

The Effect of Newborn Massage on Comfort Level and Vital Signs

This study was planned as a randomized, controlled, experimental study to examine the effect of neonatal massage on the comfort level and vital signs of newborn babies.An answer to the question "Does massage applied to infants in the neonatal period have an effect on vital signs and comfort level?" will be sought.

NIRS Monitoring in Premature Infants

This study uses frequency domain near-infrared spectroscopy coupled with diffuse correlation spectroscopy (FDNIRS-DCS) technology for monitoring cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral oxygen metabolism (CMRO2) at the bedside for newborns with germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage (GM-IVH) and/or post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) in comparison to newborns with hydrocephalus of a different etiology (VC) and healthy controls (HC). We hypothesize that baseline cerebral metabolic dysfunction is a better biomarker for GM-IVH and PHH severity and response to PHH treatment. This is a Boston Children's Hospital (BCH)-institutional review board(IRB) approved, multi-site study that includes collaboration with Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). Pei-Yi Lin receives funding from The National Institute of Health (NIH) to support the study and is the overall principal Investigator (PI) overseeing the study.

The China Neonatal Genomes Project

The project will carry out the genetic testing of 100000 neonates in the next 5 years. The aim of the project is to construct the Chinese neonatal genome database, establish the genetic testing standard of neonatal genetic diseases, and promote the industrialization of neonatal genetic disease gene testing, improve the training system for genetic counseling.

Impact of Prepartum Intravenous Fluid Intake on Newborn Weight Loss in the First Days of Life

At birth, the infant's weight was measured daily to assess the adequacy of nutritional intake. This indicator can be influenced by various factors related to the mother, her pregnancy, as well as medical interventions during the pre-delivery phase, such as pre-partum maternal fluid intakes, and the subsequent feeding method chosen for the newborn infant. This study aimed at exploring the association between maternal vascular fluid loading during labor in the pre-partum period and neonatal weight loss in the first two days of life. The study focuses on infants fedded with infant formula. This observational, retrospective, single-center study was carried out at the Amiens University Hospital Center. The participants were mothers aged 18 and older, hospitalized in the maternity ward following full-term delivery (\> 37 weeks of gestation). Data were collected through the medical records of the patient and their newborn. The investigators hypothesize that a relationship may exist between maternal pre-partum vascular fluid loading and neonatal weight loss in the first two days of life, in infants fed with infant formula. These results could raise awareness and help adapt medical and parental approaches to neonatal weight loss.

Improve the Survival Without Morbidity of Extremely Preterm Infants (PREMEX)

The intervention proposed is a new organization of care, based on the EXPRIM (EXtrem PRematurity Innovative Management) protocol, involving early, standardized, and multidisciplinary management of women hospitalized for a risk of extremely preterm birth and their children. It will take place in each perinatal network for all pregnant women hospitalized between 22 and 26 weeks with a risk of preterm delivery. Setting up the protocol requires taking into account the parents' time and timing issues, and its potential for change, to plan the implementation of the protocol, especially the degree of emergency of the situation and the probability of imminent delivery. The follow-up collected for this study will take place: * At D4 post-delivery: A questionnaire about the parents' experience of the information delivered and the decisions made will be given to and collected from the parents * At Day 28, post-delivery: A questionnaire about the parents' experience of care for their child will be given to and collected from the mother and the co-parent. * At the child's discharge from the hospital, or if he or she dies in the hospital: * Collection of clinical data (principal endpoint) from data in the medical file. * Data to measure practices and adherence to the intervention will be collected * When the child reaches the corrected age of 2 years: * a short questionnaire will be completed by the physician caring for the child at the corrected age of 2 years. The data collected will concern motor and sensory development, in particular, cerebral palsy, blindness, and deafness.. * Information about the child's development will also be collected with a questionnaire including a standardized assessment scale, he PARCA-R questionnaire (Parent Report of Children's Abilities-Revides), which the parents will complete.

Validation of STARZ Score for Early Neonatal AKI

Neonatal acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in the NICU, associated with high morbidity and mortality. Prematurity, low birthweight, sepsis, asphyxia, congenital heart disease, and nephrotoxic drugs are major risk factors. Early diagnosis is challenging as serum creatinine lacks sensitivity. The STARZ score, a composite clinical-laboratory tool, has shown high accuracy for predicting early neonatal AKI. This study aims to validate the STARZ score in neonates admitted to Assiut University Children's Hospital for early identification of AKI and improved clinical outcomes."

Effects of Music-Based Interventions on Sleep Patterns and Physiological Responses in Premature Newborns: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Sleep in the neonatal period is a fundamental biological requirement for regulating growth, neurodevelopment, and the immune system. However, disruptions in sleep patterns during this period are common among both term and preterm infants. Preterm infants have a more fragile sleep structure due to incomplete neurological maturation, while term infants may also experience sleep difficulties during the postnatal adaptation process. Improving sleep onset and sleep quality in newborns is crucial for the well-being and quality of life of both the infant and the family.

Pain and Comfort Levels During Heel Stick Blood Sampling in Newborns

Aim: The study was designed to determine the effect of Buzzy® and Shotbloker® application on pain and comfort levels in newborns during heel pricking. Method:The study was a randomised controlled trial. The study sample consisted of 159 newborns (Buzzy: 53, Shotbloker: 53, control: 53) who had heel pricks between March 2025 and December 2025 at the Samandağ State Hospital Neonatal Care Unit. The data collection tools used will be the Newborn Information Form, the Newborn Pain Scale, the Newborn Comfort Behaviour Scale, and the Buzzy® and Shotbloker® devices. In the intervention group, the Buzzy® and Shotbloker® devices will be applied before and after heel pricking, while the control group will receive routine care. The infants' pain and comfort levels will be assessed by the nurse before and after the procedure.

Infant Sleep and Exposure to Mixture of Chemical Environmental Pollutants

During their first year of life, children spend more than half their time sleeping, a function essential to their neurodevelopment. This period of maturation and development of the future adult is considered extremely vulnerable to environmental exposure. During this period, the child\'s diet is mainly provided by breastfeeding, where persistent chemical substances have been found. A cocktail of 19 mostly persistent substances (POPs) present in breast milk has recently been identified as the main contributor to neurodevelopmental risk. However, the reality of their impact on neurophysiological development, in particular on infant sleep, has yet to be assessed. In this project, the sleep of children under 6 months of age will be studied using an actimetry watch worn for 7 days by the child, accompanied by a sleep diary. Exposure to environmental pollutants will be assessed by measuring their presence in the infant\'s milk (breastfeeding) and wearing a silicone bracelet to collect air pollutants. A questionnaire on exposure will complement this evaluation.

Study on Early Genetic Screening and Precise Strategy of Neonatal Critical Illness

The researchers hope to establish an overall program of early genetic screening for neonatal critical illness in China, and to develop precise intervention strategies to assist clinical diagnosis and treatment of hereditary critical illness.

Massage for Newborns Receiving Nasal CPAP

One of the most frequently required treatments for respiratory distress in neonatal intensive care is continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) support through the nose. NCPAP application has many advantages but also disadvantages and complications. Gastric-abdominal distension, which is a complication of NCPAP application, is caused by gas entering the stomach and gastrointestinal tract. Feeding intolerance may develop in the newborn due to abdominal distension. In recent studies, it has been determined that non-pharmacological methods and supportive developmental care practices used to increase the comfort and reduce pain and stress of babies who experience painful procedures such as NCPAP application and who are exposed to the stressful neonatal intensive care unit environment are effective in increasing comfort and reducing pain and stress. These practices include therapeutic touch, mother's voice, fetal position, white noise, lullaby, wrapping and massage. In the literature, a quasi-experimental study examining the effect of massage (Field massage technique) on the respiration, heart rate and oxygen saturation of 28-34 week old newborns with respiratory distress syndrome who received nasal CPAP showed that massage had no significant effect on oxygen saturation, but respiration and heart rate decreased after the massage. has been determined. There are studies in the literature examining the effects of therapeutic touch, mother's voice, fetal position, white noise, lullaby and wrapping in order to increase the comfort of newborns receiving nasal CPAP, reduce stress and pain, and prolong sleep time. However, no research has been found in the literature examining the effects of massage on the stress, comfort and health parameters of newborns receiving nasal CPAP.