NONPHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS FOR SLEEP IN NEONATES, INFANTS, AND TODDLERS: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions versus usual care in improving sleep quality in hospitalized patients. Materials and
Methods: An integrative review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines, covering articles published between January 2019 and August 2024 in databases such as BVS, Web of Science, PubMed and Science Direct. The selected studies
were evaluated using the CASPe template and the GRADE system. Quasi- experimental studies and RCTs, focused on the hospitalized neonates, infants or children, using non-pharmacological interventions for sleep induction, in English,
Spanish or Portuguese language, were included. Results: In the 7 articles that met the inclusion criteria, 8 non-pharmacological interventions were identified: therapeutic touch, white noise, Reiki, illuminated mobile, rose oil, music therapy, story reading, lullabies (sung or recorded), as well as kangaroo care method. These
interventions demonstrated improvements in sleep duration and quality. However, the level of evidence was low in one study, medium in two and high in four. Conclusion: The identified strategies could be useful and cost-effective in various clinical settings depending on available resources. The limited number of studies highlights the need for further research in these age groups to optimize the care for hospitalized patients.