In general, the majority of the existing studies in
this review lack adequate sample size to reliably predict
whether or not comforting touch is stress reducing
in very preterm infants within a level III
NICU. Of the 11 studies in this review,
only 2 studies examined both short- and longterm
effects of comforting touch with the remaining
studies examining immediate behavioral and physiologic
outcomes. Of these 2 studies, only 1 examined
the neurodevelopmental impact of comforting touch.