Device Performance and Parental Perception of the Skincubator 2.0, a Wearable Device to Support Prolonged Skin-to-Skin Care for Preterm Infants.
Itamar Nitzan, Raylene Phillips, Iris Morag et al.
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In 30 seconds
This observational study assessed transfer performance and parental perceptions of the Skincubator 2.0 during a learning phase of a feasibility study involving preterm infants. Twelve babies received care in the device across 53 sessions, including two who were invasively ventilated. The retractable transfer pad succeeded in 103 of 106 attempts, and device humidity averaged 71 ± 11%. Parents rated Skincubator skin-to-skin care (SSC) more favourably than traditional SSC for safety (p = 0.001) and convenience (p = 0.02). The findings support feasibility and parental acceptability, but do not establish effects on infant outcomes.
Key findings
- Retractable-pad transfers succeeded in 103 of 106 attempts.
- Humidity within the Skincubator was 71 ± 11%; average session time was 146 ± 52 minutes.
- Parents rated Skincubator SSC safety more favourably than traditional SSC (p = 0.001).
- Parents rated Skincubator SSC convenience more favourably than traditional SSC (p = 0.02).
Why it matters
Prolonged skin-to-skin care can be difficult to provide to extremely preterm infants because of safety concerns and practical barriers. This study reports that a wearable device designed to secure infants and their lines during transfers was usable across multiple sessions, with high transfer success and more favourable parental ratings than traditional SSC. These findings inform evaluation of approaches intended to facilitate prolonged SSC.
What to keep in mind
The study was observational and conducted during the device’s learning phase; the reported sample comprised 12 babies and 18 parents. It assessed device performance and parental perceptions, not infant clinical outcomes.