Neonatal thermoregulation: bed surface transfers.

PURPOSE: To describe temperature changes that occur in preterm infants following bed surface transfers. DESIGN: The design was descriptive. SAMPLE: The convenience sample was comprised of 20 preterm infants (< 1,500 gm birth weight). MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE: Temperature stability after a bed transfer (i.e., radiant warmer to incubator) was the main outcome variable. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in temperatures after bed surface transfer. However, the temperatures one hour after bed surface transfer were lower than baseline temperature before bed surface transfer.