A Study of Neurophysiologically Based Occupational Therapy Intervention (NBOTI) for Feeding in the NCCU.

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Cerebral Palsy, Sensorimotor Deficits, Sensory Processing Disorder, Feeding Problems, Developmental Coordination Disorder, Picky Eaters, NICU

In brief

Many critically ill newborns in the neonatal intensive care (NICU) or critical care unit (NCCU) environment develop feeding and movement problems. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which neurophysiologically based occupational therapy intervention (NBOTI) for NCCU infants would affect the intervention group's oral feeding and other covariates, such as heart rate variability (HRV) during feeding. The biopsychosocial model provided the study's conceptual framework. The key research question explored whether NBOTI in the NCCU promoted healthy infant development through feeding, movement organization, and parent self-efficacy. This exploratory study with 10 NCCU infants and 10 historical matched controls utilized a mixed method design of qualitatively coded video analysis and inferential statistics such as the t test, the binomial test, hierarchal linear modeling (HLM), and multivariate analysis. Significant differences were obtained between the intervention and comparison groups in the number of days from all tube to all oral feeding before discharge and speed at which the infants gained weight. Longitudinal analyses of the intervention group data were employed to reveal significant trends and pre/post differences in the HRV data along with how quickly the infants ate, parent perceptions of self efficacy and decreased stress in the NCCU. Finally, qualitative findings obtained from videotape analysis provide further evidence that NBOTI was effective in facilitating feeding and promoting development. The recommendations are to replicate this study to validate and expand the findings of the current study. The model for infant care suggested by the findings could contribute to positive social change by fostering positive physical and emotional child development and healthy child-parent and family-caregiver relationships.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00766051

Run by

University of Utah

People needed

10

Starts

2007-11-01

Expected to finish

2010-03-01

Last updated by the study team

2017-01-02

Who can join

Age: 1 and older, up to 1. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• A mixed group of infants included preterm to term age infants at various levels of risk (per diagnoses) for central nervous system damage and feeding problems; but not small for dates by obstetrical dating and neurological exam, or genetic anomaly. Occupational therapy intervention began per physician approval; when patients were medically stable, and with consistent levels of blood oxygen and stable levels of supplemental oxygen (FiO2), and who were off of medication for paralysis and weaned from sedation. Historical matched control participants were matched with the intervention group participants who have the same diagnosis, gestational age, and neonatal complications.
• Exclusion criteria included infants with specific cardiac distress syndrome, genetic anomalies, and small for dates.

Where it is running

• University of Utah / Primary Childrens Medical Center — Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
• Univesity of Utah / Primary Childrens Medical Center — Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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