Level of skin-to-skin care practices among postnatal mothers in Ethiopia. A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Even though skin-to-skin contact offers several advantages for the survival of the newborn, it is not often practiced in Ethiopia. For instance, hypothermia which increases the risk of neonatal mortality by five times is prevented by this practice. Despite this, there are inconsistent findings that can affect policymaking. Consequently, this metanalysis aimed to produce trustworthy national data regarding skin-to-skin care practice and its determinants among postpartum mothers in Ethiopia. Methods: A search of the publications was conducted using MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Sciences, and Google Scholar. The program used for cleaning and analysis was STATA version 18.2. The random-effects model was utilized to estimate the pooled prevalence, which was then presented using a forest plot with a 95 % confidence interval. We evaluated heterogeneity using I2 and Cochrane Q statistics. Moreover, a visual examination of a funnel plot and Egger's regression test were used to evaluate publication bias. Results: This study included eight studies with a total of 10410 postpartum mothers. The overall level of skin-to-skin care practices was 48 % (95%CI: 31, 65. I2=99.38 %, P = 0.001). Based on subgroup analysis by year of publication, studies published between 2017 and 2019 years showed that the level of skin-to-skin care practice among postnatal mothers was 52 % (95 % CI: 14-89, I2 = 99.19). The knowledge of mothers about skin-to-skin care was significantly associated with practicing a level of skin-to-skin care. Conclusions: The findings showed that in Ethiopia, comparatively less than half of the newborns received skin-to-skin care. Moreover, there was a substantial correlation between the mother's knowledge and practice of skin-to-skin care. Therefore, both the government and all stakeholders should take coordinated action to improve and expand skin-to-skin care practices through health education, so that all postnatal mothers can practice this vital newborn care.

Parents' Perception and Use of Skin-to-Skin Care in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Skin-to-skin care (SSC) between newborns and their parents provides many positive outcomes for both newborns and their parents. However, there is a lack of research assessing the perception of parents, especially fathers, of SSC in Saudi Arabia. PURPOSE: The aim of the study is to assess parents' perception of SSC in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used an online survey. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 140 parents of hospitalized neonates between January and June 2023. Data were collected from one private hospital (Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital) and one public hospital (King Abdulla Medical Complex) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The parents' perceptions of SSC were assessed using the Parents' Perceptions of SSC tool. An independent t-test was used to compare mothers and fathers in their perceptions of SSC. RESULTS: One hundred and forty parents completed the online survey (70 females and 70 males). The majority of the parents did not use SSC with their babies (n=102, 73%), did not read or hear about the use and benefits of skin-to-skin care (n=100, 71%), and did not receive information or training on SSC from healthcare professionals (n=112, 80%). Mothers' perception of SSC was significantly higher than that of fathers (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Fathers' perception of SSC was lower than that of mothers. Awareness and training programs are needed to inform parents, especially fathers, regarding SSC and its benefits in Saudi Arabia.

[Midwives as influencers in skin care for newborns at risk of atopic diseases : Survey of midwives' current recommendations]. / Hebammen als Influencer bei der Hautpflege atopisch prädisponierter Neugeborener : Eine Umfrage zu den aktuellen Empfehlungen von Hebammen.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of atopic diseases remains high. Initial studies suggest that primary prevention with regular basic care may influence the incidence of atopic dermatitis in infants; however, data are unclear. Midwives play an important role in the care of women in the peripartum period and therefore also in providing advice on topics such as skin care, breastfeeding and nutrition of the newborn and young infant. The aim of this study was to determine the care recommendations for newborns by midwives. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among German midwives using questionnaires on the topic of newborn skin care. RESULTS: A total of 128 questionnaires were analyzed. The most common recommendations were oil-based herbal topicals (34.9%) and plain water (34.0%). Approximately 70% of midwives reported recommending various options when there was a known family history of atopic diathesis. It was remarkable that most of the midwives' recommendations were identical regardless of the presence of an atopic diathesis. Essential care products are only used "when necessary". CONCLUSION: Training programs for midwives on the topic of "care and strengthening of the skin barrier", taking into account the current guidelines for allergy prevention, should be implemented.

Design and synthesis of novel dihydropyridine- and benzylideneimine-based tyrosinase inhibitors.

Tyrosinase (TYR) inhibitors are very significant as they inhibit enzyme tyrosinase activity, and its inhibition is vital for skin care, anticancer medication, and antibrowning of fruits and vegetables. This work presents a novel and economical route for the preparation of new synthetic tyrosinase inhibitors using amlodipine (4). The novel conjugates 6 (a-o) were designed, synthesized, and characterized by spectroscopic analyses, including Fourier transform infrared and low- and high-resolution mass spectroscopy. The purified compound 4 was refluxed with various aldehydes and ketones 5 (a-o) for 5-8 h in methanol at 60°C-90°C. This research modified the drug in a step-by-step manner to develop therapeutic properties as a tyrosinase inhibitor. The structures of synthesized ligands 6 (a-o) were established based on spectral and analytical data. The synthesized compounds 6 (a-o) were screened against tyrosinase enzyme. Kojic acid was taken as standard. All the prepared compounds 6 (a-o) have good inhibition potential against the enzyme tyrosinase. Compounds 6o, 6b, 6f, and 6k depicted excellent antityrosinase activity. Compound 6k, with an IC50 value of 5.34 ± 0.58 µM, is as potent as the standard kojic acid (IC50 6.04 ± 0.11 µM), standing out among all synthesized compounds 6 (a-o). The in silico studies of the conjugates 6 (a-o) were evaluated via PatchDock. Compound 6k showed a binding affinity score of 8,999 and an atomic contact energy (ACE) value of -219.66 kcal/mol. The structure-activity relationship illustrated that the presence of dihydropyridine nuclei and some activating groups at the ortho and para positions of the benzylideneimine moiety is the main factor for good tyrosinase activity. The compound 6k could be used as a lead compound for drug modification as a tyrosinase inhibitor for skin care, anticancer medication, and antibrowning for fruits and vegetables.

Gender perspective in the implementation of hygiene in cardiology intensive care.

INTRODUCTION: Hygiene in critical patients is an essential daily care, provided under safe conditions, to promote comfort and maintain the integrity of skin and mucous membranes, however, it can generate feelings of dependence and vulnerability in patients. The aim of this post hoc study is to know the differences in satisfaction and lived experience regarding bed hygiene in an intensive care unit according to biological sex and gender perspective. METHODS: Observational, descriptive and prospective study in which an ad hoc questionnaire was administered to 148 conscious and oriented patients of legal age. The questionnaire was completed 24-48 hours after admission to the unit, once the initial bed hygiene had been performed. RESULTS: Males experienced conformism (51%), embarrassment (31%) and relief (9%); Women felt conformism (35.4%), embarrassment (18.8%) and relief (29.2%) (p < 0.05). Women experienced a feeling of cleanliness in 89.1% compared to 56.1% of men (p < 0.05). Men were offered to wash their genitals in 72.9% compared to 35.7% of women (p < 0.05). 34.3% of men would prefer a family member to assist them during hygiene (62.9% by their wives), compared to 27.1% of women who would prefer a family member (84.6% by their daughters). CONCLUSION: Women tolerate bed hygiene better than men and appreciate more the feeling of cleanliness. Women are identified as caregivers, both professionally and in the family, and patients prefer them to collaborate in the performance of hygiene, being wives preferred by men and daughters preferred by women.

Survey of European Blood and Marrow Transplant (EBMT) nurses to explore the current topical skin management of chronic cutaneous graft versus host disease in the real-world clinical environment.

PURPOSE: To understand the current practice in relation to the management of topical therapy for cutaneous chronic Graft versus Host Disease (ccGvHD) and access to extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) within European allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation centres by a survey of nurses. METHOD: This was a multicentre cross-national study at eligible European Blood and Marrow Transplant centres. Eligibility required more than 30% of treated patients having allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplant. Centres performing only autologous stem cell transplants were excluded from the study. RESULTS: 12% of respondents were unaware of whether their centre had a policy or not for monitoring chronic cutaneous graft versus host disease. Over half had the affiliation of a dermatologist for referral, but only 19% had access to a specialist nurse. Patient education was routinely provided in most of the centres (86%). Results suggested as the severity of a patient's chronic cutaneous graft versus host disease increased, there was a reduction in the amount of topical emollients and steroids employed. Following topical therapies, systemic treatments, and other modalities such as ECP were employed with less focus directed towards topical care. CONCLUSIONS: Topical treatment is the backbone of any treatment paradigm for chronic cutaneous graft versus host disease, however, there is no universally agreed algorithm. Improved skin care may lead to a reduction in the amount of systemic therapy required, thus increasing patients' quality of life. There is little standardisation in the topical management of chronic cutaneous graft versus host disease, despite skin being the most cited organ affected by chronic graft versus host disease, this should be addressed.

Risk factors of skin barrier dysfunction in older adults: A systematic review.

AIM: Skin barrier dysfunction can trigger various skin disorders in older adults. Skin barrier assessment is essential for nurses and caregivers to prevent skin disorders; however, the evidence available for clinical assessment is limited. This systematic review aimed to clarify the risk factors of skin barrier dysfunction in older adults. METHODS: This review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The four databases were searched using multiple terms related to "aged" and "skin barrier." The search was initially run on April 19, 2023, and rerun on October 12, 2023. Peer-reviewed quantitative studies in English were included, with no publication time limit being set. Two reviewers assessed the risk of bias in a blinded and independent manner using JBI tools. Owing to the heterogeneity of the results, a narrative synthesis was performed. RESULTS: Among the database-identified 4833 studies, 20 studies were included. The extracted factors were categorized as demographic characteristics, functional characteristics, chronic diseases, nutritional status, skin condition, and environmental factors. However, owing to high risk of bias and inconsistent results across studies, only chronic kidney disease and dry skin were considered risk factors for skin barrier dysfunction in older adults. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of chronic kidney disease and dry skin in daily skin care may guide the development of personalized skincare programs to maintain skin integrity in older adults. Furthermore, cohort studies that consider confounding factors and the reliability of measurements are needed for an in-depth investigation into skin barrier dysfunction and more risk factors.

Integrative Multiomics Approach to Skin: The Sinergy between Individualised Medicine and Futuristic Precision Skin Care?

The skin is a complex ecosystem colonized by millions of microorganisms, the skin microbiota, which are crucial in regulating not only the physiological functions of the skin but also the metabolic changes underlying the onset of skin diseases. The high microbial colonization together with a low diversity at the phylum level and a high diversity at the species level of the skin is very similar to that of the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, there is an important communication pathway along the gut-brain-skin axis, especially associated with the modulation of neurotransmitters by the microbiota. Therefore, it is evident that the high complexity of the skin system, due not only to the genetics of the host but also to the interaction of the host with resident microbes and between microbe and microbe, requires a multi-omics approach to be deeply understood. Therefore, an integrated analysis, with high-throughput technologies, of the consequences of microbial interaction with the host through the study of gene expression (genomics and metagenomics), transcription (transcriptomics and meta-transcriptomics), and protein production (proteomics and meta-proteomics) and metabolite formation (metabolomics and lipidomics) would be useful. Although to date very few studies have integrated skin metabolomics data with at least one other 'omics' technology, in the future, this approach will be able to provide simple and fast tests that can be routinely applied in both clinical and cosmetic settings for the identification of numerous skin diseases and conditions. It will also be possible to create large archives of multi-omics data that can predict individual responses to pharmacological treatments and the efficacy of different cosmetic products on individual subjects by means of specific allotypes, with a view to increasingly tailor-made medicine. In this review, after analyzing the complexity of the skin ecosystem, we have highlighted the usefulness of this emerging integrated omics approach for the analysis of skin problems, starting with one of the latest 'omics' sciences, metabolomics, which can photograph the expression of the genome during its interaction with the environment.

Does Male Skin Care Content on Instagram Neglect Skin Cancer Prevention?

This research letter assesses male skin care content on social media in order to bring to light the lack of content regarding skin cancer prevention posted on Instagram for male audiences.

Differences in the annotation between facial images and videos for training an artificial intelligence for skin type determination.

BACKGROUND: The Grand-AID research project, consisting of GRANDEL-The Beautyness Company, the dermatology department of Augsburg University Hospital and the Chair of IT Infrastructure for Translational Medical Research at Augsburg University, is currently researching the development of a digital skin consultation tool that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze the user's skin and ultimately perform a personalized skin analysis and a customized skin care routine. Training the AI requires annotation of various skin features on facial images. The central question is whether videos are better suited than static images for assessing dynamic parameters such as wrinkles and elasticity. For this purpose, a pilot study was carried out in which the annotations on images and videos were compared. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Standardized image sequences as well as a video with facial expressions were taken from 25 healthy volunteers. Four raters with dermatological expertise annotated eight features (wrinkles, redness, shine, pores, pigmentation spots, dark circles, skin sagging, and blemished skin) with a semi-quantitative and a linear scale in a cross-over design to evaluate differences between the image modalities and between the raters. RESULTS: In the videos, most parameters tended to be assessed with higher scores than in the images, and in some cases significantly. Furthermore, there were significant differences between the raters. CONCLUSION: The present study shows significant differences between the two evaluation methods using image or video analysis. In addition, the evaluation of the skin analysis depends on subjective criteria. Therefore, when training the AI, we recommend regular training of the annotating individuals and cross-validation of the annotation.

Skin care by washing with water is not inferior to washing with a cleanser in children with atopic dermatitis in remission in summer: WASH study.

BACKGROUND: Washing with water is not inferior to washing with soaps and detergents in children with atopic dermatitis (AD) in remission during the fall-winter seasons. We investigated whether this finding varies during summer based on the type of cleanser (soaps and detergents). METHODS: This evaluator-blinded, pragmatic, randomized, and non-inferiority study enrolled patients with AD whose eczema was controlled following regular steroid ointment application 2 days/week. For 8 ± 4 weeks, participants washed their upper and lower limbs with a cleanser on one side and with water alone on the other. Each participant chose either a weakly alkaline soap or an acidic detergent. The primary outcome was the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score at week 8 ± 4. RESULTS: The data of 43 of the 47 registered participants were analyzed. The median patient age was 44 (23-99) months; 28 and 15 participants chose weakly alkaline and acidic cleansers, respectively. At week 8 ± 4, EASI scores of the water and cleanser sides were 0.00 (0.00-0.40) and 0.15 (0.00-0.40), respectively (p = 0.74). The difference between both sides was 0.00 (-0.07 to 0.14); the limits of the 95 % confidence interval did not reach the pre-specified non-inferiority margin. No difference was observed in the median Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure score, number of additional steroid ointment applications, and occurrences of skin infections. There were no differences between the cleanser types in any of the results. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that washing with water was not inferior to that with a cleanser in patients with AD in the maintenance phase during summer, regardless of the type of cleanser.

Correlations Between Serum Cytokine Levels and the Use of a Moisturizer in Elderly Women in Accordance with the Improvement of Objective and Subjective Skin Condition.

Purpose: In the skin of elderly people with dryness, the production of inflammatory cytokines tends to be induced under the influence of external stimuli. Therefore, there has been a hypothesis that the deterioration of skin conditions due to aging is linked to systemic inflammation. This study aimed to verify the possibility that the use of moisturizer improves skin condition and suppresses systemic inflammation. Methods: As an open study, the participants (n=75) were randomly assigned to either control group or moisturizer group. Participants in the moisturizer group used a moisturizer called Grafa Moisture Keep Milk MC at least twice a day for four weeks on the entire body below the neck. Objective skin conditions (overall dry skin score, water content of the stratum corneum, and transepidermal water loss) and serum cytokine levels (IL-1α, IL-1ß, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) were evaluated before and after the study in both groups. Subjective skin condition (questionnaire evaluation) was also assessed in the moisturizer group after the study. Results: Serum IL-6 level was significantly reduced in the moisturizer group (n=16) compared with the control group (n=36). In addition, there was an inverse correlation between serum IL-5 and the subjective moisturizing effect in the questionnaire evaluation, suggesting that the moisturizer improved subjective symptoms of dryness by reducing IL-5 levels. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between IL-5 and IL-6, indicating that they are regulated by common upstream factors. A significant positive correlation of transepidermal water loss with serum IL-4 levels was also detected. Conclusion: The application of the moisturizer to the entire body not only improved subjective and objective skin condition, it may also reduce the levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines. Umin Clinical Trials Registry: Registration number: UMIN 000052024.

Skin care types, frequencies and products: A cross-sectional study in German institutional long-term care.

AIM: The aim of the study was to describe types and frequencies of skin care interventions and products provided in institutional long-term care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Baseline data from a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in nursing homes in Berlin, Germany was collected before randomization. Numbers, proportions and frequencies of washing, showering and bathing, and the application of leave-on products were calculated. Product labels were iteratively and inductively categorized into overarching terms and concepts. RESULTS: A total of n = 314 residents participated in the study. In the majority, washing of the whole body was done once daily, and showering was performed once per week or more rarely. The majority received leave-on products daily on the face and once per week on the whole body. Most of the skin care interventions were delivered by nurses. There was marked heterogeneity in terms of product names, whereas the product names reveal little about the ingredients or composition. CONCLUSION: Personal hygiene and cleansing interventions are major parts of clinical practice in long-term care. Daily washing is a standard practice at the moment. In contrast, leave-on products are used infrequently. To what extent the provided care promotes skin integrity is unclear. Due to the heterogeneity and partly misleading labels of skin care products, informed decision making is difficult to implement at present. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT03824886.

A multidisciplinary approach to managing lymphorroea in primary lymphoedema: a case study.

This case study describes the successful management of a patient with primary lymphoedema, who was experiencing lymphorrhoea and epidermolysis, using a multidisciplinary approach. The patient had Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome. The multidisciplinary team, in an outpatient clinic in Japan, included a certified lymphoedema therapist, plastic surgeons, and a wound, ostomy and continence nurse. The team performed complex physical therapy and lymphaticovenular anastomosis, which promoted the resolution of the lymphorrhoea. This resulted in improvements in skin condition, the prevention of recurrent cellulitis, and no increase in limb circumferences during the 1-year follow-up period. This report highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to lymphoedema management, including lymphorrhoea control that fitted in with the patient's daily life. It is hoped that this article will contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of patients with lymphoedema.

A prospective clinical study evaluating the efficacy and safety of a Laminin-5 fragment contained soothing cream in post-laser treatment care.

BACKGROUND: Photothermolysis effect, resulting from laser procedures, can cause redness/erythema, skin irritation and burning sensation, these symptoms may persist more than several days after the procedure and leading to discomfort for patients. Proper management is necessary for the better outcome, especially in early period after the laser procedure. Laminin-5 fragment contained soothing cream (CEBELIA Extreme Care®), is believed to have the calming/soothing effect on overheated/irritated skin after undergoing the laser treatment. It is assumed that cream can help alleviate the redness, erythema and burning sensation commonly experienced after laser treatments. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of Laminin-5 fragment contained soothing cream (CEBELIA Extreme Care®) during the early post-laser care period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective split-face study involved 28 patients who underwent CO2 laser procedures and met inclusion criteria. The laser treatment was performed on both sides of the midface, and subsequently, the Laminin-5 fragment contained soothing cream (CEBELIA Extreme Care®) was applied to one side of the midface. The efficacy of the cream was evaluated through objective measures, including photographic evaluation by two independent evaluators and assessment using an automatic skin analysis device. Subjective evaluations were also conducted. RESULTS: The objective evaluation, based on the erythema score, revealed a statistical significant difference (p < 0.05) between the side treated with Laminin-5 fragment contained soothing cream (CEBELIA Extreme Care®) and the control side. The erythema score was 1.34 ± 2.469 after the laser treatment with subsequent application of the cream for 10 min and 0.7 ± 2.28 on the second day after the procedure. The subjective evaluation showed a statistically significant high of patient satisfaction. No complications were observed during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: The application of Laminin-5 fragment contained soothing cream (CEBELIA Extreme Care®) after the CO2 laser treatment was found to be effective, particularly when applied for 10 min after the laser treatment and on the second day after the procedure. Both objective and subjective evaluations yielded significantly different results. Patients reported a high satisfaction rate with the characteristics of the cream during the follow-up period.

The effects of Jawoongo soap on skin improvement.

BACKGROUND: Jawoongo is used to treat and prevent skin issues such as dry and keratinization disorders, burns, trauma, pigmentation, scarring, and inflammatory skin conditions. In this study, the efficacy and safety of 0.47% Jawoongo extract-containing soap (JAUN-CS) were assessed in terms of skin improvement effects such as cleansing, moisturizing, sebum secretion management, and skin elasticity enhancement. METHODS: Twenty healthy adult men and women aged 20-60 years old took part in the study. Before and after using JAUN-CS, the participants were divided into groups, and various skin improvement effects were measured utilizing machines such as the Corneometer, Tewameter TM 300, and Visioscan. A dermatologist analyzed the product's safety in accordance with Frosch & Kligman and the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association (CTFA) rules. RESULTS: Using JAUN reduced the amount of base and point makeup by 25.7% and 76.7%, respectively. Also, JAUN showed a great facial exfoliation effect by removing the old and lifted skin keratins by 84.7% and 20.3%, respectively. Impurities in facial pores decreased by 58%, too. Furthermore, JAUN increased the moisture content of deep skin and skin surface by 3.5% and 74.0%, and skin elasticity by 2.8%. Skin tone, skin texture, skin radiance, and skin barrier all showed improvements of 3.3%, 20.0%, 15.0%, and 115.2%, respectively. Lastly, cleansing with JAUN successfully enhanced the condition of the youth triangle by 7.6%, while TEWL significantly decreased by 52.7%. Neither the JAUN nor the control group soap showed any adverse reactions, such as erythema or allergies, during the testing period. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrated that JAUN is safe for human use and has various skin-improving properties, making Jawoongo a promising natural material for the development of functional cosmetics in the future.

Efficacy and safety of novel topical pigment-correcting regimen with biweekly diamond tip microdermabrasion procedures on facial hyperpigmentation.

BACKGROUND: Facial hyperpigmentation can negatively affect an individual's emotional and psychosocial well-being. AIMS: Assess safety and tolerability of a combination of microdermabrasion (DG) procedures using a novel brightening pro-infusion serum (EC-DG) with a targeted at-home treatment regimen in subjects with mild to severe facial hyperpigmentation, including melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and dark spots. PATIENTS/METHODS: This 12-week, open-label study enrolled 18 subjects (Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV) who underwent 6 in-office DG procedures with EC-DG (one procedure administered biweekly), along with daily topical application of a brightening treatment serum and dark spot cream. End points included change from baseline across multiple skin quality attributes and the Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI), self-assessment questionnaires, and tolerability assessments. RESULTS: The combination treatment was well tolerated and resulted in significant (p ≤ 0.05) improvements from baseline in radiance, tactile roughness, and moisturization/hydration immediately after the first treatment, in MASI score at day 3, and in overall hyperpigmentation at week 4. Most (94.1%) subjects were satisfied with treatment. CONCLUSIONS: DG procedures using EC-DG combined with a targeted at-home skincare regimen are effective and tolerable for treating facial hyperpigmentation across a broad range of skin types.

Effect of tactile and/or kinesthetic stimulation therapy of preterm infants on their parents' anxiety and depressive symptoms: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: In the case of preterm birth, the idealized postnatal period is replaced by an anxious and even traumatic experience for parents. Higher prevalence of parental anxiety, postnatal depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder has been observed in mothers of preterm infants up to 18 months after childbirth. There is increasing evidence that proprioceptive stimulation has a beneficial effect on preterms' short-term outcomes. Could this care also have an impact on parental anxiety and depressive symptoms? We reviewed recent publications on the impact on parents' anxiety and depressive symptoms of delivering tactile and/or kinesthetic stimulation to their premature newborn. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review by searching the PubMed, PsycInfo, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar databases for English-language publications from the past 10 years. We focused on the mothers or fathers of infants born preterm (before 37 weeks of gestation) who provided tactile and/or kinesthetic stimulation to their premature newborn in the neonatal intensive care unit. Relevant outcomes were the parents' anxiety, stress, depressive symptoms, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, assessed with reliable standardized inventories. RESULTS: Eleven articles were included in the systematic review. Results suggested a beneficial effect of parents' early tactile and kinesthetic stimulation of their preterm infants. CONCLUSIONS: These interventions may act as protective factors against the occurrence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in parents and deserve to be studied further in this population.

Skin-to-Skin Care and Spontaneous Touch by Fathers in Full-Term Infants: A Systematic Review.

A series of studies have shown that mothers' early tactile behaviors have positive effects, both on full-term and preterm infants, and on mothers alike. Regarding fathers, research has focused mostly on paternal skin-to-skin care with preterm infants and has overlooked the tactile behavior effects with full-term newborns on infants' outcomes and on fathers themselves. The current systematic review considered the evidence regarding paternal tactile behaviors with full-term infants, including skin-to-skin care (SSC) and spontaneous touch (ST), during parent-infant interactions, and differentiated biophysiological, behavioral and psychological variables both in fathers and in infants. We also compared fathers' and mothers' tactile behaviors for potential differences. The few available studies suggest that paternal touch-SSC and ST-can have positive effects on fathers and infants alike. They also show that, despite some intrinsic differences, paternal touch is as pleasant as maternal touch. However, given the paucity of studies on the topic, we discuss why this field of research should be further explored.

Pressure ulcer prevention: family caregiver training effectiveness.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of pressure ulcer prevention training for the relatives of palliative care inpatients. METHODS: This study had a pretest-post-test design with parallel groups and a randomised control group, and it was conducted with 70 (experimental n=35, control n=35) patient relatives. A personal information form and Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test were used as data collection tools. Parametric tests were performed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The pressure ulcer prevention training given to the relatives of palliative care patients in the experimental group was significantly effective in increasing their level of knowledge about these ulcers (p<0.05). However, the routine ward discharge training given to the relatives of palliative care patients in the control group was not significantly effective in increasing their level of knowledge about them (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Specialised training regarding pressure ulcers should be given to the relatives of patients receiving palliative care. It is important that the educational materials used in this trainings appeal to all sensory organs in order to improve the educational outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05979402.