Neurobehavioral outcome of multi-sensory stimulation intervention in preterm neonates: Randomised controlled trial

Abstract

BackgroundPreterm neonates are exposed to overwhelming and unusual sensory stimulations in the neonatal intensive care unit, which can have deleterious effects on their neurobehavioral outcomes. Therefore, neonatal nurses play a crucial role in enhancing these neonates' neurobehavioral outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the neurobehavioral outcomes of a multi-sensory stimulation intervention in preterm neonates. DesignA randomized, controlled pretest-posttest trial with two parallel groups. SubjectsSixty preterm neonates who were medically stable with a mean gestational age of 32.95 ± 1.845 weeks and a mean birth weight of 1550.83 ± 208.077 g. SettingNeonatal intensive care unit at Alexandria University Children's Hospital at Smouha, Alexandria, Egypt. MethodsAll eligible neonates were randomly assigned to the study or the control group. The control group received standard neonatal nursing care, while the study group received the multi-sensory stimulation intervention in addition to standard nursing care. The neonates received the intervention for 30 min daily for two consecutive weeks. The outcomes were evaluated within 24 h of admission and after two weeks using the Neonatal Neurobehavioral Examination Scale. ResultsThe multi-sensory stimulation intervention significantly improved the mean total score of preterm neonates’ neurobehavioral responses after two weeks (65.20 ± 7.65) compared to the control group (46.87 ± 7.55) (P = 0.000). ConclusionMulti-sensory stimulation intervention had a protective effect on preterm neonates’ neurobehavioral outcomes. Therefore, it should be integrated into standard nursing care for preterm neonates.