The effect of finger feeding on stress and comfort behaviors in preterm infants

This randomized controlled study examined the effect of the finger feeding method on stress and comfort behaviors in 72 preterm infants.

Data were collected using the Neonatal Comfort Behavior Scale (NCBS) and the Neonatal Stress Scale (NSS). Infants in the intervention group received finger feeding until full oral feeding, while the control group was fed via orogastric tube.

In the intervention group, the mean NCBS score decreased from 19.75 ± 3.46 before the intervention to 13.42 ± 3.04 after the intervention, with a mean difference of 6.33 points. This decrease was statistically significant (F = 208.84, p < .05) and demonstrated a large effect size (partial η² = 0.856). In the control group, the mean NCBS score decreased from 22.69 ± 3.08 to 19.64 ± 4.04, with a mean difference of 3.05 points; although this reduction was statistically significant (F = 44.58, p < .05), the effect size was more limited compared to the intervention group (partial η² = 0.56). Regarding stress levels, the mean NSS score in the intervention group decreased significantly from 9.61 ± 2.96 to 0.97 ± 1.84, indicating a very large effect size (F = 670.21, partial η² = 0.85). In the control group, the mean NSS score decreased from 11.94 ± 3.02 to 7.42 ± 3.17; the effect size was more limited compared to the intervention group. The transition to full oral feeding was significantly faster in the intervention group (3.7 ± 0.1 days) compared to the control group (6.4 ± 0.6 days).

The finger feeding method was found to be an effective care practice for preterm infants, reducing stress levels, supporting comfort, facilitating a faster transition to full oral feeding, which may support the transition to breastfeeding, and can be adapted to nurse, parent, and family-centered care practices.