The effect of massage and bathing on bilirubin levels in newborns with hyperbilirubinemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Objective: This study was carried out to examine randomized controlled trials (RCT) to evaluate the effectiveness of massage and bathing in reducing bilirubin levels. Method: This systematic review, meta-analysis type study was carried out with RCT to evaluate the effects of massage and bathing interventions on infants with jaundice. The articles published between 2000 and 2021 and indexed in CINAHL, Cochrane Central, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Eric, and OVID databases were searched. Ten full-text studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in the systematic review and meta-analyses. The total sample number consisted of 726 newborns. Results: As a result, the intervention was determined to have a positive effect on the second and third days in the intervention group, and the “bilirubin level" values were generally lower in the intervention group (z = −3.90, p = 0.000; z = −3.74, p = 0.000; z = −1.97, p = 0.05). However, the interventions were determined to have a positive effect on the second, third and fourth days in the intervention group, and the number of “defecations” was higher in the intervention in general (z = 3.16, p = 0.000; z = 2.97, p = 0.000; z = 3.69, p = 0.05). Conclusion: Based on these results, it can be said that massage and bathing positively contribute to care by increasing the meconium pass and lowing the bilirubin level in managing jaundice in newborns. At the same time, no side effects of massage and bath were reported. © 2024 Neonatal Nurses Association