The effect of hydrocolloid tape and facial massage on nasal injury and stress levels in premature infants on noninvasive mechanical ventilation: Randomized controlled trial.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hydrocolloid patch use and facial massage on nasal septum injury and stress in premature infants receiving noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) support.

Methods: The study was conducted as a single-blind, randomised controlled experimental study with 108 premature infants between 28 and 34 gestation weeks (Hydrocolloid patch group: 36, facial massage group: 36, control group: 36) who were hospitalised in the 3rd level neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) between February 2023 and February 2024, received NIMV support and met the inclusion criteria. The data of the study were collected using the Neonatal Descriptive Information Form, Neonatal Skin Condition Assessment Scale (NSCAS), Nasal Injury Scale (NIS) and Neonatal Stress Scale (NSS).

Results: The preterm infants included in the study did not differ significantly between the groups according to descriptive and clinical characteristics except gender (p > 0.05). NIS scores, NSCAS scores, PICS scores and NSS scores showed significant differences between the groups. In all evaluations, the highest NIS and NSCAS scores were observed in the control group and the lowest NIS and NSCAS scores were observed in the hydrocolloid patch group. When the NSS scores of the groups were analysed, it was found that the lowest was in the group in which facial massage was applied and the highest was in the control group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: In the study, it was concluded that hydrocolloid tape application was more effective than facial massage application in preventing nasal injuries and decreased the skin condition score, but facial massage application was more effective in decreasing the stress score in premature infants receiving NIMV support.