The Effects of Sucking and Swallowing Exercises on the Transition Process to Oral Feeding in Premature İnfants

This study was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study to evaluate the effect of sucking and swallowing training on the transition to oral feeding in premature infants. The study sought to answer the question, "Do suckling and swallowing exercises have an effect on the transition to oral feeding?". The study was carried out between December 2021 and June 2022 at the neonatal intensive care unit of a public hospital in Istanbul. The study sample consisted of infants who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of a public hospital in Istanbul, who met the inclusion criteria, and whose parents consented to the study. A power analysis was performed to determine the number of subjects to be included in the study. The power of the test was calculated using the G*Power 3.1 program. Infants enrolled in the study were randomized in order of arrival to avoid bias. The randomization table was generated by "https://www.calculatorsoup.com" as follows.

Data were collected using the Premature Infant Data Collection Form and the Early Feeding Skills Assessment Tool.

The premature infant data collection form developed by the investigators consists of 2 parts. The first part contains descriptive information about the parents (gender, age, education level, number of children, social security). The second part contains descriptive details of the infant (sex, mode of delivery, Apgar score, week of birth, postmenstrual week at enrollment, birth weight, weight at enrollment, head circumference-height at birth, phototherapy status within the last 24 hours, oxygen support status).

Application in the experimental group: Informed consent was obtained from the parents of the infants in the experimental group who had low suckling success and met the inclusion criteria. After completing the premature infant data collection form, the investigator assessed the infant's sucking activity. Infants with no suck reflex were included in the study group. The oral motor stimulation exercises developed by Fucile and applied to the infants in the experimental group who needed suckling and swallowing exercises were evaluated according to the Early Feeding Skills measurement tool. The investigator performed the exercises on the infants once a day for 12 minutes before feeding for 14 days. After 14 days, the infants were assessed again using the EFS scale.

Application in the control group: First, informed consent was obtained from the parents of the infants in the control group who met the inclusion criteria. After completing the premature infant data collection form, the infant's sucking activity was assessed. Infants who did not show a suck reflex were included in the study group, and the infants were evaluated using the Early Feeding Skills (EFS) measurement tool at baseline and at 14 days.