The effect of oral motor stimulation on sucking capacity in preterm infants

This study was conducted with a single-blind randomized-controlled experimental design to evaluate the effect of early oral motor stimulation, which is applied to support and strengthen the development of oral-motor functions in preterm infants, and also to evaluate suction capacity, growth-development and discharge time of preterm infants at 29 and/or 30-week gestation with and without oral motor stimulation. The study data were collected from a total of 60 preterm infants between 01 May 2019 and 15 March 2020, consisting of 30 intervention and 30 control infants in Medical Park Gaziantep Hospital and Gaziantep Sani Konukoğlu Application and Research Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Units. The data were obtained with the Data Collection Form, the Follow-Up Form about the daily procedures performed to the baby, and the Suction Capacity Follow-up Form. The sucking capacities of the infants were evaluated with Suction Power/mmHg, Suction Time (sec) without releasing the feeding bottle, suction time (sec), and Suction Amount (ml) measurements. Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention was applied to the infants in the intervention group once a day for 14 days, and the infants in the control group were given the usual nursing care that was always applied in the unit. In the first day of the study, measurements were made on suction power, body weight, height, and head circumference; on the 8th and 11th days, suction capacities were measured; on the 14th day, suction capacities, body weight and head circumference were measured; and on the discharge days, the body weight, height and head circumference measurements were made in the infants both in the intervention and control group by the researcher. When the effecte of Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention on growth measurements were examined, it was determined that as the measurement day progressed, the body weight, length and head circumference increased both in the intrervention and control group infants. This increase was detected to be at higher levels in the intervention group compared to the control group on the day the babies were discharged, and that the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p<0.001). When the effect of Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention on the length of the infants' hospital stay and transition to oral feeding times were evaluated, it was determined that the infants in the intervention group passed to oral nutrition earlier than the infants in the control group, and were discharged from the hospital earlier. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention, Suction Power Measuring Manometer in the World was developed and used for the first time. When the groups' suction strengths of the infants were compared on the first day of the study, statistically significant differences were detected between these measurements (p˃0.05). On the 8th, 11th and 14th days of the study, the groups' Suction Capacity values had statistically significant differences (p<0.05). According to these results, it was determined that the Oral Motor Intervention had significant positive effects on growth, hospitalization time, transition time to oral nutrition and suction capacity values of preterm infants. It is recommended that Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention Application is included in the routine nursing care in Neonatal Intensive Care Units for preterm infants who are clinically suitable in the 29th and 30th gestational week, nurses are trained and supported in this regard. Keywords: Preterm Infant, Nutrition, Sucking Capacity, Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention