Preterm infants: behavioral responses to handling by the nursing team/Recem-nascido pre-termo: respostas comportamentais ao manuseio da equipe de enfermagem/Recien nacido pretermino: respuestas comportamentales al manejo del equipo de enfermeria

The study aimed to investigate behavior during and 20 minutes after completion of nursing procedures among of preterm infants admitted to high-risk neonatal units. This exploratory descriptive study, involving 14 physicians, 10 nursing auxiliaries, four nurses, and 10 preterm infants, extended from May to June 2010. The research field was a teaching hospital in Ceara State. The collection instrument was based on the principles of the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program. It was ascertained that the most frequent behavioral responses during the procedures were crying, grimacing and twisting motions and, 20 minutes after the procedures, deep sleep, hyperextension and toes spread. The data collected provided information for teams working in the units surveyed to recognize risk in preterm infant development in order to implement effective measures to prevent future development problems.