Research Article

A Review of Theses with Randomised Controlled Experimental Designs on Kangaroo Care (Skin-to-Skin Contact) in Nursing and Midwifery in Turkey: A Retrospective Study

Volume: 3 Number: 3 December 31, 2025
EN TR

A Review of Theses with Randomised Controlled Experimental Designs on Kangaroo Care (Skin-to-Skin Contact) in Nursing and Midwifery in Turkey: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to examine postgraduate theses on kangaroo care and skin-to-skin contact in Turkey. Materials and Methods: The study involved a search of theses published in the fields of nursing and midwifery at the National Thesis Centre of the Higher Education Council (YOK) in Turkey between 16/07/2025 and 23/07/2025, which were available for full access. The keywords ‘kangaroo care’ and ‘skin-to-skin contact’ were used in the abstract section of the search. A total of 68 theses were identified, but since 4 of them were found to be duplicates, 64 theses were included in the analysis. A total of 9 postgraduate theses that met the inclusion criteria were analysed. Results: The study included 9 postgraduate theses that met the inclusion criteria. Eight of the theses examined were in the field of nursing and one was in the field of midwifery. Seven of the theses were at the master's level and the remaining two were at the doctoral level. Only one of the randomised controlled studies showed that kangaroo care had no effect between groups, while the other studies showed that it was effective. Conclusion: Skin-to-skin contact and kangaroo care are considered fundamental and effective methods in nursing and midwifery practices for the care of preterm infants. Skin-to-skin contact and kangaroo care are indispensable practices in preterm infant care, both in terms of improving clinical outcomes and supporting maternal and infant health holistically, and their widespread use in healthcare systems is recommended.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

The authors declared that this study has received no financial support.

Ethical Statement

Since the data used in this study is completely public, it does not require ethics committee approval.

Thanks

We would like to thank Dr. Melike Aslan Ünlü for her contribution to the English translation of this article.

References

  1. Kara, A. E. (2024). Prematüre bebeklerde orogastrik tüp yerleştirme işlemi sırasında oluşan ağrıyı azaltmada baba ile uygulanan kanguru bakımının etkisi (Yüksek lisans tezi). Adıyaman Üniversitesi.
  2. Bakır, E. (2023). Yoğun bakımda prematüre bebeği olan annelere uygulanan müzik destekli kanguru bakımının anne sütü miktarına, emzirmeye başlanma zamanına ve anksiyete düzeyine etkisi (Doktora tezi). Üsküdar Üniversitesi.
  3. Başdaş, Ö., Efe, Y. S., Erdem, E., Özdemir, A., Güneş, T., & Öztürk, A. (2022). Anne-bebek bağlanmasını etkileyen faktörler. YOBÜ Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi, 3(2), 130–136.
  4. Bell, L., St-Cyr Tribble, D., Paul, D., & Lang, A. (1998). A concept analysis of parent–infant attachment. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 28(5), 1071–1081.
  5. Belsky, J., & Fearon, R. M. P. (2008). Precursors of attachment security. In J. Cassidy & P. R. Shaver (Eds.), Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications (2nd ed., pp. 295–316). Guilford Press.
  6. Biller, H. B. (1993). Fathers and families: Paternal factors in child development. Auburn House.
  7. Borazan, B. M. (2024). Prematüre yenidoğanlara ebeveynleri tarafından uygulanan kanguru bakımının yenidoğanın yaşamsal bulgularına ve ebeveynlerin algılanan ebeveynlik öz yeterlilik düzeyi ile bebek bağlanmasına etkisinin belirlenmesi (Yüksek lisans tezi). Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi.
  8. Bowlby, J. (2008). A secure base: Parent-child attachment and healthy human development. Basic Books. (Orijinal çalışma 1988)

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Midwifery (Other), Pediatric Health and Illnesses Nursing

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 31, 2025

Submission Date

October 31, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 17, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 3 Number: 3

APA
Aslan, M., & Hancıoğlu Aytaç, S. (2025). A Review of Theses with Randomised Controlled Experimental Designs on Kangaroo Care (Skin-to-Skin Contact) in Nursing and Midwifery in Turkey: A Retrospective Study. İstanbul Esenyurt Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 3(3), 1-7. https://izlik.org/JA37SA95GR
AMA
1.Aslan M, Hancıoğlu Aytaç S. A Review of Theses with Randomised Controlled Experimental Designs on Kangaroo Care (Skin-to-Skin Contact) in Nursing and Midwifery in Turkey: A Retrospective Study. Istanbul Esenyurt University Journal of Health Sciences. 2025;3(3):1-7. https://izlik.org/JA37SA95GR
Chicago
Aslan, Meltem, and Selma Hancıoğlu Aytaç. 2025. “A Review of Theses With Randomised Controlled Experimental Designs on Kangaroo Care (Skin-to-Skin Contact) in Nursing and Midwifery in Turkey: A Retrospective Study”. İstanbul Esenyurt Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 3 (3): 1-7. https://izlik.org/JA37SA95GR.
EndNote
Aslan M, Hancıoğlu Aytaç S (December 1, 2025) A Review of Theses with Randomised Controlled Experimental Designs on Kangaroo Care (Skin-to-Skin Contact) in Nursing and Midwifery in Turkey: A Retrospective Study. İstanbul Esenyurt Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 3 3 1–7.
IEEE
[1]M. Aslan and S. Hancıoğlu Aytaç, “A Review of Theses with Randomised Controlled Experimental Designs on Kangaroo Care (Skin-to-Skin Contact) in Nursing and Midwifery in Turkey: A Retrospective Study”, Istanbul Esenyurt University Journal of Health Sciences, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 1–7, Dec. 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA37SA95GR
ISNAD
Aslan, Meltem - Hancıoğlu Aytaç, Selma. “A Review of Theses With Randomised Controlled Experimental Designs on Kangaroo Care (Skin-to-Skin Contact) in Nursing and Midwifery in Turkey: A Retrospective Study”. İstanbul Esenyurt Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 3/3 (December 1, 2025): 1-7. https://izlik.org/JA37SA95GR.
JAMA
1.Aslan M, Hancıoğlu Aytaç S. A Review of Theses with Randomised Controlled Experimental Designs on Kangaroo Care (Skin-to-Skin Contact) in Nursing and Midwifery in Turkey: A Retrospective Study. Istanbul Esenyurt University Journal of Health Sciences. 2025;3:1–7.
MLA
Aslan, Meltem, and Selma Hancıoğlu Aytaç. “A Review of Theses With Randomised Controlled Experimental Designs on Kangaroo Care (Skin-to-Skin Contact) in Nursing and Midwifery in Turkey: A Retrospective Study”. İstanbul Esenyurt Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 3, no. 3, Dec. 2025, pp. 1-7, https://izlik.org/JA37SA95GR.
Vancouver
1.Meltem Aslan, Selma Hancıoğlu Aytaç. A Review of Theses with Randomised Controlled Experimental Designs on Kangaroo Care (Skin-to-Skin Contact) in Nursing and Midwifery in Turkey: A Retrospective Study. Istanbul Esenyurt University Journal of Health Sciences [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 1;3(3):1-7. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA37SA95GR