A research study to assess the level of knowledge in physiotherapists about premature babies with early problems in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Completed

Conditions: preterm neonates with acute complications

Registration Number: CTRI/2023/05/052288

Lead Sponsor: NITTE deemed to be university,

Brief Summary: As of 2019, every year globally, an estimated 15million babies are born too soon, which is greater than one in ten infants, andthe complications arising due to prematurity claim the lives of almost 1million children. 2.7% of the 13 million live births out of the 15 millionpreterm births each year worldwide have moderate or severe neurologicalinvolvement and 4.4% have mild neurological involvement as stated by WHO. InIndia 3,341,000 premature births occur each year, and 361,600 under-five deathsare directly due to preterm complications.

Essential new-born care as well as basic care for feeding support,infections, and breathing difficulties can mean the difference between life anddeath for preterm babies and by enhancing treatment for premature children, wecan better handle the challenges brought on by their immaturity and theireventual evolutionary prognosis. For a better prognosis for high-risk neonates,diagnostic and therapeutic methods are used in the NICU.

These techniquesinclude percussion, vibration, aspiration, stimulating cough, posturaldrainage, positioning (as a part of chest physiotherapy), massage therapy,gentle joint compressions, tactile kinaesthetic stimulation, passiverange of motion exercises (as a part of neuromuscular physiotherapy) Oro-motorstimulation techniques (stroking or applying pressure to the cheeks, lips, jaw,tongue, palate, and gums, as well as non-nutritive suction from a pacifier, inthe peri- and intra-oral regions) and promote Kangaroo Mother care.

The NeonatalIntensive Care Unit (NICU) is a specialized unit created for new-borns who areill, unstable, and who need medical care.Holistic care mustincorporate a multidisciplinary team approach (which includes paediatricians,nurses, and physiotherapists). To improve the prognosis of premature babies inNICU, Physiotherapy plays a major role. Paediatric physiotherapy has advancedto include neonatal physiotherapy. Because of this,physiotherapists who work in neonatal care settings like the NICU andintermediate care facilities need to have advanced clinical skills. The physiotherapistcarries out a customized program from cardiopulmonary and neuromuscularphysiotherapy approaches which is suitable for the gestational age of thepremature baby, and acute complications faced by preterm infants, supportingneurobehavioral and neurodevelopmental, according to the needs of the baby,while involving the parents in the process with family education.

The purpose of this study is to determine whetherthe physiotherapists who are involved in NICU, are aware of the necessarytherapy and guidelines for the treatment of acute complications of preterminfants and whether these guidelines are being followed and performed routinelyin the NICU setup.

Detailed Description: Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Completed

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 162

Inclusion Criteria

Physiotherapists who are working in NICU.
Physiotherapists who have working experience of more than 2 years in a NICU setup.

Exclusion Criteria

Physiotherapists who are not willing to participate in the study.

Study & Design

Study Type: Observational

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Self made Questionnaire	30 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
No Secondary Outcomes	NIL

Trial Locations

Locations (1): Justice K S Hegde Charitable Hospital
🇮🇳
Kannada, KARNATAKA, India
Justice K S Hegde Charitable Hospital
🇮🇳Kannada, KARNATAKA, India
Rakesh Krishna Kovela
Principal investigator
7204346274
Rakeshkrishna.pt@gmail.com