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A parent-administered sensorimotor intervention for oral feeding in infants born preterm: A randomized clinical study

Sandra Fucile1,2, Laurie Snider3, Karel O'Brien4

  • 1School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University Kingston, Kingston, ON, Canada.

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
|August 5, 2024
PubMed

Insights

A parent-administered sensorimotor intervention (PASI) may help preterm infants in the NICU achieve oral feeding skills sooner. This intervention shows promise for improving feeding outcomes in vulnerable newborns.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Development
  • Pediatric Intervention
  • Clinical Nutrition

Background:

  • Preterm infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) often face challenges with feeding and developmental milestones.
  • Early interventions are crucial for optimizing outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of a parent-administered sensorimotor intervention (PASI) on the developmental progress of preterm infants during their NICU stay.
  • To assess the effect of PASI on oral feeding attainment and motor function.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized clinical study involving 94 preterm infants (mean gestational age 31 weeks).
  • Infants were assigned to either an experimental group receiving PASI (15 minutes daily for 10 days) or a control group receiving standard care.
  • Outcomes measured included time to complete oral feeds, direct breastfeeding at discharge, and motor function via the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP).

Main Results:

  • Infants in the PASI group achieved complete oral feeds significantly faster than controls (11.9 vs 15.3 days, p=0.013).
  • A higher proportion of infants in the experimental group received direct breastfeeds at discharge (22 vs 12, p=0.010).
  • Motor function scores assessed by TIMP were comparable between the experimental and control groups (p=0.961).

Conclusions:

  • The parent-administered sensorimotor intervention (PASI) program shows potential in enhancing oral feeding skills for preterm infants.
  • Findings support the integration of PASI into NICU protocols to improve feeding outcomes.
  • While motor function was not significantly affected, the benefits to oral feeding warrant further investigation and implementation.
Abstract

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