Jay (1982) used the phrase GHT for
the first time to describe the tactile intervention
of skin-to-skin contact between
the infant’s head and abdomen and the
researcher’s hands. In Jay’s study, the
sample (N = 26) consisted of medicallyfragile
preterm infants who were
intubated and mechanically ventilated.
The 13 infants in the experimental
group received GHT (initiated within
the first 96 hours of life) for 12 minutes,
four times a day for 10 consecutive days
in addition to the normal routine care.