Effect of Prefeeding Oral Stimulation Programme on the Feeding Behaviour of Preterm Infants

Infants born less than 26 weeks of gestational age frequently encounter oral feeding difficulties. Their medical status and greater exposure to the noxious stimuli put them at higher risk of encountering oral feeding difficulties⁵. Thus, it is of great importance to determine the benefits of a prefeeding oral stimulation in these infants because such a program may safeguard the infants’ innate sucking skills as well as potentially reduce or prevent the occurrence of oral feeding difficulties in this population².

The present study was a quasi experimental study with the primary objective to assess the effect of prefeeding oral stimulation programme on the feeding behaviour of preterm infants admitted to the Inborn Nursery, SAT Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram. The design used was nonrandomised control group design.

The theoretical framework of the study was based on the concept of System Adaptation Model by Sister Callista Roy (1984).

The study was conducted among the preterm infants admitted to the Inborn Nursery. The sample size was 86; 43 each in experimental and control group.

The tools used for data collection were clinical assessment proforma, pulse oximeter, weighing machine, and stop watch. The clinical assessment proforma includes 4 sections. They are baseline information of the baby, assessment of biophysiological parameters- Oxygen saturation (SPO₂) and Pulse rate, assessment of feeding behaviour by preterm infant oral feeding behaviour assessment scale.

The control and experimental group were separated by timing of the study with the purpose to avoid contamination and for ethical reasons. The control group received the routine institutional care, while the experimental group received the prefeeding oral stimulation programme beore feeding.