Application of oral feeding promotion program in the oral feeding of preterm infants

Abstract

Objective To explore the effect of oral feeding promotion program, which combined utilization of preterm infant oral motor intervention (PIOMI) from abroad and the Chinese version of preterm infant oral feeding readiness assessment scale (PIOFRAS), on the performance, process and outcome of oral feeding in preterm infants. Methods A total of 62 infants born before 34 weeks of gestation were divided into control group and experimental group according to the order of admission. Both groups received the same routine care. The infants in the experimental group (n=30) received the assessment of oral feeding readiness by PIOFRAS before feeding, and were given oral massage and non-nutritive sucking for 5 minutes once a day. The intervention started from gavage feeding to total oral feeding. While the control group (n=32) received a sham intervention that nurses stood beside the warm box or the baby′s bed for 5 minutes once a day before feeding. The oral feeding performance, the corrective gestational age of initiation of oral feeding and achieving full oral feeding, daily bodyweight and length of hospital stay were recorded. Results The transitional time from the initiation of oral feeding to full oral feeding in experimental group was shorter than that in control group[(8.07±6.73) d vs (13.88±7.51)d], and the difference was statistically significant (t=3.200, P 0.05). Conclusions The oral feeding promotion program can improve the oral feeding of preterm infants. Key words: Preterm infant; Enteral nutrition; Oral motor intervention; Oral feeding