Enhancing Sensory Experiences for Infants Born Preterm: A Quality Improvement Project

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Quality improvement science
• Occupational therapy

Background:

• Preterm infants require specialized sensory experiences to support development.
• Current practices in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) may not consistently provide optimal sensory stimulation.
• The Supporting and Enhancing NICU Sensory Experiences (SENSE) program was developed to address this need.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate the SENSE program to enhance sensory experiences for preterm infants.
• To assess the impact of staff education and training on the delivery of sensory interventions.
• To measure changes in the provision of positive sensory input and adherence to recommendations.

Main Methods:

• A 4-week time-interruption quality improvement project was conducted.
• Baseline data on sensory program use were collected for 8 weeks prior to the intervention.
• An occupational therapist provided staff education, training, and modeling of the SENSE program.
• Data on program delivery, education, and adherence were collected before, during, and after the intervention.
• Staff surveys were administered to gauge perspectives on program usage.

Main Results:

• Parental delivery of positive sensory input increased from an average of 43.88 to 92.7 minutes per day.
• Adherence to positive tactile recommendations improved from 19% to 47%.
• Nursing staff showed unanimous support for the program post-intervention, as indicated by surveys.

Conclusions:

• The SENSE program effectively increased positive sensory input and adherence to tactile recommendations for preterm infants.
• While significant improvements were observed, further opportunities exist to optimize program implementation and reach.
• Staff education and engagement are crucial for successful integration of sensory programs in the NICU setting.