Nurses’ Practices for Sensorimotor Stimulation to Enhance Oral Feeding of Preterm Infants: An Assessment Study

Abstract

Background: Preterm infants experience feeding problems due to their physiological and neurological immaturity. Sensorimotor stimulation such as oral stimulation, non-nutritive sucking and tactile kinesthetic stimulation are forms of stimulations used to enhance oral feeding for preterm infants at Neonatal Intensive Care Units. Aim of the study: Was to assess nurses’ practices for sensorimotor stimulation to enhance oral feeding of preterm infants. Design: A descriptive design. Setting: The study was conducted at selected Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) at Tanta University hospital and Tanta University Educational Hospital at Gharbia Governorate. Subject: A purposive sample of 80 nurses and preterm infants that satisfied predetermined inclusion criteria. Study Tools: Interviewing questionnaire sheet and observational checklists to assess nurses’ knowledge and practices for sensorimotor stimulation to enhance oral feeding of preterm infants. Results: It was found that, more than three fifths of the studied nurses had a good level of knowledge and more than four fifths of them had competent level of practice regarding sensorimotor stimulation to enhance oral feeding of preterm infants. Conclusion: Nurses’ practices to enhance oral feeding of preterm infants were competent and involved oral stimulation (perioral and intraoral stimulation combined with non-nutritive sucking) and tactile-kinesthetic stimulation. Recommendation: Raising awareness of nurses about sensorimotor stimulation to enhance oral feeding of preterm infants.