Effects of tactile stimulation on premature infant weight gain.

A study was conducted to determine the effect of continuous tactile stimulation on weight gain in premature infants. Thirty infants made up the sample. The experimental group received continuous tactile stimulation by being placed on a pile decubitus pad for a five-day period. Infants in the control group received routine nursery care. Both groups were weighed daily on the same scale. Analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data, which resulted in a failure to reject the hypotheses of no difference.