Effects of Applying Vimala Massage on Neonates with Exaggerated Physiological Jaundice on Their Clinical Outcomes

Background: Exaggerated physiological jaundice is physiological jaundice that  persists 
for longer period more than usual. Phototherapy is the first line of treatment for 
physiological jaundice but it has many adverse reactions. Recently, vimala massage has 
become increasingly used as complementary therapy for treating hyperbilirubinemia. 
Aim: Evaluate effects of applying vimala massage on neonates with exaggerated 
physiological jaundice on their clinical outcomes. Design: A randomized control 
experimental design was utilized in the current study. Setting: the study was carried out 
at Neonatal Intensive Care Units of EL Menshawy Hospital and Tanta Main University 
Hospital. Sample: A purposive sample of 60 neonates aged 36-38 weeks. The enrolled 
neonates were randomly selected into and control groups. Tools of the study: Tool I: A 
neonates bio-socio-demographic data. Tool II:  Neonates' clinical outcomes. Results: The 
results indicated that mean score of total serum bilirubin reduced in the intervention 
group in third, fourth and fifth day of the study. Also, there was increase in the mean 
scores of intervention group frequencies of daily defecation than mean score of control 
group in the second, third, fourth, and fifth day of the study. Conclusion: there was a 
statistically significant improvement in relation to total serum bilirubin, frequencies of 
daily defecation, amount of daily feeding and discharge weight among vimala massage 
group than control group at second until fifth day of intervention.  Recommendations: 
Vimala massage should be integrated as adjacent to phototherapy into the practice of 
nursing care for neonates suffering from hyperbiliubinemia