Gentle touch and voice may ease stress for premature babies — a pilot trial puts it to the test
NCT ID NCT07728760
First seen Jul 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 28, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This pilot trial tests whether the SENSITIVE Care Program — a 14-day bundle of touch, skin-to-skin care, talking, and eye contact — can lower stress (measured by saliva cortisol) and improve mother-infant interaction for preterm babies in the NICU. Eight clinically stable preterm infants born at 28 to 37 weeks will receive either the program plus standard care or standard care alone. The goal is to see if this gentle, readiness-based approach can make a difference in the high-stress NICU environment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- SENSITIVE Care Program, a structured sensory-integrative intervention including touch, skin-to-skin care, and parental engagement
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this program could offer a simple, drug-free way to reduce stress and improve bonding for preterm infants in intensive care.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small pilot study with only 8 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The program requires trained staff and parent involvement, which may be hard to scale.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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RSUD Wates, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Bantul, DI. Yogyajarta, 55714, Indonesia
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