Oral motor intervention and weight gain in premature infants: A clinical randomized controlled study
Sayyedeh Marziyeh Mir Masoumi1, Seid Hooshyar Mojabi2, Shabnam Jaliolghadr3
1Ghods Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
Insights
The Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention (PIOMI) improves growth metrics and reduces hospitalization time in preterm infants. This structured approach enhances sucking strength, leading to better weight gain and overall development.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Oral motor stimulation aids oral feeding readiness in preterm infants.
- Structured interventions like the Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention (PIOMI) may impact feeding progression and efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of PIOMI on oral feeding progression and weight gain in premature infants.
- To compare growth metrics and hospitalization duration between infants receiving PIOMI and those in a control group.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled trial conducted in a neonatal intensive care unit.
- Intervention group received PIOMI; control group did not.
- Comparison of weight gain, height, head circumference, and hospitalization length.
Main Results:
- Infants in the PIOMI group showed statistically significant higher mean weight, height, and head circumference (p < 0.05).
- The PIOMI group exhibited a significantly higher mean number of uninterrupted sucks (p < 0.001).
- PIOMI intervention was associated with reduced mean hospitalization time.
Conclusions:
- The PIOMI intervention enhances sucking power, leading to improved growth indicators (weight, height, head circumference) in premature neonates.
- PIOMI is clinically important for improving growth metrics and reducing length of hospital stay in preterm infants.
Abstract:
BackgroundInterventions aimed at providing oral motor stimulation improve the preparedness for oral feeding and support the earlier attainment of full oral feeding in preterm infants. However, utilizing the Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention (PIOMI) as a structured method may prolong the time needed to reach complete oral feeding and enhance feeding efficiency regarding weight gain and exclusive breastfeeding, compared to an unstructured approach.ObjectiveThe current study aimed to evaluate the impact of PIOMI on the progression of oral feeding and weight gain in premature infants.MethodsThis study represents a randomized controlled trial that took place in a neonatal intensive care unit in 2024. The intervention group received PIOMI, and the control group did not receive the intervention. The participants of the two groups were compared based on weight gain, mean height, head circumference, and length of hospitalization.ResultsThe findings of this study showed that the mean of studied parameters, such as weight, height, and head circumference of the infants in the intervention group, was higher than that of the control group, and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Moreover, the mean number of uninterrupted sucking of infants in the intervention group was higher, and it was statistically significant (p < 0.001).DiscussionThe PIOMI intervention enhances the sucking strength and consequently boosts the growth metrics of premature infants.ConclusionIt was concluded that the PIOMI intervention increases the sucking power and, as a result, improves the growth indicators of premature neonates, such as weight, height, and head circumference, which is clinically important. Additionally, it reduces the mean hospitalization time.
