NCT02962609

Effect of Feeding Positions of Preterm Infants on Some Physiological Characteristics

Comparing the Effect of Feeding Preterm Infants in Two Different Positions on Some Physiological Characteristics: A Randomized-Controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 80 (actual)
• Sponsor: Istanbul University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 32 Weeks – 38 Weeks
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of Semielevated Side-Lying (ESL) and Semielevated Supine Position (ESU) positions used in bottle-feeding of very preterm infants upon their physiological characteristics and feeding performances.

Detailed description

Semielevated supine position (ESU) is a position frequently used in neonatal intensive care units. In this position, infant is laid and fed on its back and the head is elevated to an angle of 45-60° in order to reduce the respiratory load of lungs. The ESL position, head of the infant is elevated to an angle of 45-60° and the infant is fed in the side-lying position. Since this position mimics the breast-feeding position, very preterm infants are supported to utilize the advantages of breast-feeding. A randomization was provided in the sample group consisting of totally 80 infants and while 38 infants were included in the ESL (experimental) group, 42 infants were included in the ESU (control) group.In the power analysis repeated at the end of the study, the power of the study was determined as 87% at a reliability of 95%.

Conditions

• Feeding Behavior

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Semielevated Side-lying Position-ESL	The infants in the experimental group (n = 38) were held in the ESL position. In this position, their head and trunk were elevated to an angle of 45-60◦ with the help of a pillow prepared by the researcher from the beds that were previously used in the unit and infantswere held in the side-lying position as in the breast-feeding position where their right ear faced the ceiling and the other ear faced the arms of the researcher. Their knees and hip were leaned against the researcher's arms and their head and neck were held at the same level by the researcher; whereas, their chin was held in the flexion posture mildly facing the floor. The researcher supported their head, neck, and shoulder with her left hand and controlled the bottlewith her right hand.
OTHER	Semielevated Supine Position	The ESU position was applied to the infants in the control group (n=42). In this position, their head and trunk were elevated to an angle of 45-60◦ with the help of the same pillow that was prepared by the researcher from the beds previously used in the unit and was used in the experimental group and they was laid in the supine position in the arms of the researcher. Their head and neck were held at the same level by the researcher, whereas their chin was held in the flexion posture mildly facing the floor. The researcher supported their head, neck, and shoulder with her left hand and controlled the bottlewith her right hand.

Timeline

• Start date: 2015-01-01
• Primary completion: 2015-10-01
• Completion: 2016-06-01
• First posted: 2016-11-11
• Last updated: 2019-10-18
• Results posted: 2019-10-18