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Effect of premature infant oral motor intervention (PIOMI) and pacifier intervention on the transition to oral
Merve Cakirli1, Meral Bayat2, Ayse Neslihan Tekin3
1Faculty of Health Science, Child Health and Disease Nursing, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Türkiye.
Insights
Premature infant oral motor intervention (PIOMI) and pacifier use shorten hospital stays for preterm infants transitioning to oral feeding. Both interventions improved feeding skills and reduced time to full oral feeding compared to standard care.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Pediatric nutrition
- Developmental pediatrics
Background:
- Preterm infants often face challenges with oral feeding, impacting their growth and development.
- Early intervention is crucial for optimizing feeding skills and reducing hospitalization duration in vulnerable neonates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention (PIOMI) and pacifier intervention on the transition to full oral feeding in preterm infants.
- To compare the outcomes of PIOMI and pacifier intervention with a control group.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 39 preterm infants (29-34 weeks gestation) in a neonatal intensive care unit.
- Infants were allocated to three groups: PIOMI, pacifier intervention, and control.
- Data collected using demographic forms, feeding monitoring, and the Early Feeding Skills (EFS) assessment tool.
Main Results:
- Both PIOMI and pacifier interventions led to a shorter length of hospital stay and faster transition to full oral feeding compared to the control group.
- Infants in the PIOMI group achieved full oral feeding and were discharged approximately 3 and 4 days earlier, respectively, than those in the pacifier group.
- The PIOMI group demonstrated significantly higher total Early Feeding Skills scores than the control group.
Conclusions:
- PIOMI and pacifier interventions are beneficial for improving oral feeding skills in preterm infants.
- Integrating these interventions into neonatal intensive care unit nursing care can expedite discharge for preterm infants.
Aim:
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of premature infant oral motor intervention (PIOMI) and pacifier intervention on the transition to full oral feeding in preterm infants.
Methods:
This is a randomized controlled trial conducted between January 2021 and April 2023 in a neonatal intensive care unit in Eskişehir, Turkey. Preterm infants born between 29 and 34 weeks of gestation were included in the study. Infants were assigned to the groups by stratified randomization method. The study was completed with a total of 39 infants, 13 infants in each group (PIOMI, pacifier, and control). Data were collected using the "Preterm Infant Demographic Information Form," "Feeding Monitor Form," and "Early Feeding Skills Assessment Tool (EFS)." Statistical analysis used paired sample t-tests, ANOVA, Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis H, and Pearson-χ2 test methods.
Results:
In the research findings, it was determined that infants receiving PIOMI and pacifier intervention had a shorter length of stay, transition to full oral feeding compared to infants in the control group, and consumed a higher amount of feed in the first minute (p < .05). The infants in the PIOMI group started full oral feeding on average 3 days earlier than the infants in the pacifier group and were discharged approximately 4 days earlier (p > .05). It was determined that infants in the PIOMI group had significantly higher EFS-total compared to infants in the control group.
Conclusions:
PIOMI intervention and pacifier intervention should be included in nursing care in neonatal intensive care units to improve the oral feeding skills of preterm infants and shorten their discharge time.
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