There is evidence that music therapy combined with physical contact to parents stabilizes the vital signs of hospitalized preterm infants. Yet, there is no evidence for the difference between simple contact by touching the infant in the incubator or cod, or close physical contact during music therapy sessions (MT). Behavioral effects of the various forms of attention toward the infant during therapy need to be elucidated. Our study aimed to quantify the effects of hand touch contact (HTC) and close physical contact (CPC) during live performed MT in preterm infants regardless of gestational age on behavioral state (assessed via COMFORTneo scale) and vital signs. A maximum of ten live music therapy sessions were delivered three to four times a week until hospital discharge to 50 stable infants. Pre-, during- and post-therapy heart rates, respiratory rates, oxygen saturations and COMFORTneo scores were recorded for each session. A total of 486 sessions was performed with 243 sessions using HTC and CPC each. The mean gestational age was 33 + 3 weeks, with 27 (54%) infants being male. We observed lower COMFORTneo scores, heart and respiratory rates and higher oxygen saturation during and after live performed music therapy independent of the kind of physical contact than before therapy. While pre-therapy values were better in the CPC group for all four variables, a higher mean response on COMFORTneo scale and vital signs was observed for HTC (COMFORTneo score −5.5, heart rate −12.4 beats per min., respiratory rate −8.9 breaths per min, oxygen saturation + 1.5%) compared to CPC (COMFORTneo score −4.6, heart rate −9.6 beats per min., respiratory rate −7.0 breaths per min, oxygen saturation + 1.1%). Nonetheless, post-therapy values were better for all four measures in the CPC group. Regression modeling with correction for individual responses within each patient also yielded attenuated effects of MT in the CPC group compared to HTC, likely caused by the improved pre-therapy values. Live performed music therapy benefits preterm infants’ vital signs and behavioral state. During CPC with a parent, the absolute therapeutic effect is attenuated but resulting post-therapy values are nonetheless better for both the COMFORTneo scale and vital signs.

中文翻译：

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现场表演音乐治疗中早产儿的 COMFORTneo 量表——亲密身体接触和手触摸接触之间的差异

有证据表明，音乐疗法结合与父母的身体接触可以稳定住院早产儿的生命体征。然而，没有证据表明通过触摸保温箱或鳕鱼中的婴儿的简单接触与音乐治疗课程 (MT) 期间的密切身体接触之间存在差异。需要阐明治疗期间对婴儿的各种形式的关注对行为的影响。我们的研究旨在量化早产儿现场进行 MT 期间手触摸接触 (HTC) 和亲密身体接触 (CPC) 对行为状态（通过 COMFORTneo 量表评估）和生命体征的影响，无论胎龄如何。每周为 50 名稳定的婴儿提供最多 10 次现场音乐治疗，直至出院为止，每周进行三到四次。每次治疗前、治疗期间和治疗后的心率、呼吸频率、氧饱和度和 COMFORTneo 评分均被记录。总共进行了 486 个会话，其中使用 HTC 和 CPC 各进行了 243 个会话。平均孕龄为 33±3 周，其中 27 名（54%）婴儿为男性。我们观察到，与治疗前相比，现场表演的音乐治疗期间和之后的 COMFORTneo 评分、心率和呼吸频率较低，氧饱和度较高，与治疗前无关，与身体接触的类型无关。虽然 CPC 组所有四个变量的治疗前值均较好，但 HTC 组的 COMFORTneo 量表和生命体征平均反应较高（COMFORTneo 评分 -5.5、心率 -12.4 次/分钟、呼吸频率 -8.9 次呼吸）每分钟，氧饱和度 + 1.5%）与 CPC（COMFORTneo 评分 -4.6，心率 -9.6 次/分钟，呼吸频率 -7.0 次/分钟，氧饱和度 + 1.1%）相比。尽管如此，CPC 组的所有四项指标的治疗后值均更好。与 HTC 相比，对每个患者的个体反应进行校正的回归模型也产生了 CPC 组中 MT 的效应减弱，这可能是由于治疗前值的改善所致。现场表演的音乐疗法有益于早产儿的生命体征和行为状态。在与父母一起进行 CPC 期间，绝对治疗效果会减弱，但治疗后的 COMFORTneo 量表和生命体征值仍然更好。