Combining Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention and Kinesiotaping to Improve Feeding Performance in Premature...

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Pediatric physical therapy
• Developmental pediatrics

Background:

• Feeding difficulties are prevalent in premature infants, risking dehydration and prolonged hospitalization.
• Optimizing oral feeding skills is crucial for infant health and development.
• Current interventions require evaluation for enhanced efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of a combined intervention (Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention - PIOMI and Kinesiotaping - KST) on premature infant feeding.
• To compare the combined PIOMI+KST intervention against PIOMI alone and KST alone.

Main Methods:

• A single-blind randomized clinical trial involving 45 premature infants (30-34 wk gestational age) with feeding difficulties.
• Participants were randomized into three groups: PIOMI+KST, PIOMI only, or KST only, receiving daily interventions for seven days.
• Primary outcome: Preterm Oral Feeding Readiness Assessment Scale (POFRAS); Secondary outcomes: oral intake volume, weight gain, time to full oral feeding, and hospital stay duration.

Main Results:

• All intervention groups demonstrated significant improvements in feeding outcomes (p < 0.001).
• The combined PIOMI+KST and PIOMI-only groups showed superior improvements in POFRAS scores, oral intake volume, and weight gain compared to the KST-only group (p < 0.05).
• The combined intervention group exhibited the largest effect sizes and a shorter hospital stay, indicating a clinically meaningful advantage.

Conclusions:

• The combination of PIOMI and KST offers a synergistic approach that significantly enhances feeding performance in premature infants.
• This combined therapy may expedite the achievement of full oral feeding and reduce hospitalization duration.
• The synergistic approach holds potential for reducing healthcare costs associated with prolonged neonatal intensive care.