TempWatchPeer-Reviewed PublicationRandomised Controlled Trial
Impact of Hypothermia Alert Device (BEMPU) on Improvement of Duration of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) Provided at Home: Parallel-Group Randomized Control Trial
Year
2023
Location
🇮🇳 Karamsad, Gujarat, India
Sample Size
128 LBW newborns (64 BEMPU, 64 control)
Investigators
Somashekhar Marutirao Nimbalkar, Viral Thakorbhai Patel, Dipen Vasudev Patel, Ajay Gajanan Phatak
Institutions
Pramukhswami Medical College / Bhaikaka University, Karamsad, Gujarat
Published In
Scientific Reports
Background & Methods
A parallel-group randomized controlled trial at Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad, Gujarat, to determine whether the BEMPU TempWatch hypothermia alert device increases the duration of kangaroo mother care provided at home after discharge. 128 LBW neonates (< 2.5 kg, ≥ 32 weeks) were randomized at discharge to TempWatch (n=64) or standard care (n=64) and followed for 4 weeks. KMC duration was recorded weekly via direct home visits.
Key Results
| Outcome / Metric | BEMPU Group | Control Group | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMC duration — week 1 (significance) | Significantly higher | Standard care | 0.003 |
| KMC duration — week 2 | Significantly higher | Standard care | 0.008 |
| KMC duration — week 3 | Significantly higher | Standard care | 0.003 |
| KMC duration — week 4 | Significantly higher | Standard care | 0.003 |
- 1TempWatch significantly increased home KMC duration in all four weeks post-discharge (p=0.003, 0.008, 0.003, and 0.003 respectively).
- 2The benefit was consistent across all four weeks, demonstrating that the device sustains behavioral change over time.
- 3This is the only RCT to specifically measure at-home KMC duration after discharge — a critical gap in the prior evidence base.
Why This Matters
WHO recommends continuous skin-to-skin KMC for at least 30 days for LBW newborns, but adherence after hospital discharge is a major challenge. This trial provides the strongest evidence to date that TempWatch can bridge the compliance gap at home, where it matters most for post-discharge survival.
How to Cite
Nimbalkar SM, Patel VT, Patel DV, Phatak AG. Impact of hypothermia alert device (BEMPU) on improvement of duration of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) provided at home: parallel-group randomized control trial. Scientific Reports. 2023;13:4368.
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