The effect of multi-sensory stimulation appliced by nurses on the stress level and nutrition process of pre-feeding before feeding to pre-feeding babies in the newborn intensive care unit during the COVID-19 pandemic period

Patient visits to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit are allowed once a day within the scope of the measures taken by the Ministry of Health to combat Covid-19; this is because mother-baby interaction has been interrupted. It is essential for the nurses to do multi- sensory stimulation and nutrition instead of the mother during this period. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of multi-sensory stimulation applied by the nurse to premature babies hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit during the pandemic period, on stress levels and feeding processes in babies. 60 premature babies treated in Pamukkale University Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit were included in the study; infants were divided into two groups as experimental (30) and control (30) groups. The infants in the experimental group were given multi-sensory stimulation by nurses before feeding. According to the findings, the amount of nutrition in the experimental group was higher than in the control group. Babies in both groups gained weight gradually. Again, however, the babies in the experimental group gained more weight. Pre-feeding and post-feeding video recordings of the babies in both groups were taken and their stress levels were evaluated by two expert observers. According to both observers, the stress levels of the babies in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group on both the 1st and 5th days. In conclusion, multi-sensory stimulation applied by the nurse before feeding premature babies hospitalized in the NICU during the pandemic period shortened the feeding time of the babies increased the amount of feeding, and decreased the stress levels at the same time. In conclusion, it is recommended that NICU nurses apply the multi-sensory stimulation needed by infants in NICUs when parents cannot meet them. Keywords: Premature infant, multi-sensory stimulation, neonatal intensive care unit, nurse, stress