Effect of Educational Intervention on Neonatal Nurses Practices Regarding Oral Motor Stimulation on Early Transition from Tube to Oral Feeding in Preterm Infants

Abstract

Nurses working in neonatal nursery units play a crucial role in assessing the preterm infants feeding readiness cues for initiation of oral feeding and implementing the evidence-based intervention to support the development of feeding skills. Objectives: To assess the effect of educational intervention on neonatal nurses’ practices regarding oral Motor stimulation on early transition from to oral oral feeding in preterm infants. Methods: A quasi-experimental single group study conducted in Children Hospital Lahore from May to July 2023. Pre and post intervention data was collected through the observational checklist from 36 nurses working in Neonatology. Nurses were educated through PowerPoint presentation and direct demonstration on infants. Results: Descriptive statistics showed that Majority of nurses were having diploma in nursing, 4-10 years’ experience and belonged to 31-45 years age category. In inferential statistics Paired sample t-test revealed that the majority of nurses (100%, n=36) had incompetent practices before training which were improved (91.6%, n=33) after educational intervention with significant p-value<0.05. Conclusions: The nurses who received training revealed competent practices so we conclude that educational intervention was effective to improve the nurses’ practices.