In this parallel-group randomized controlled trial, very low birthweight infants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either cue-based (intervention group) or clinician-driven feeding (control group). For infants in the intervention group, Speech therapists and nurses will use their cue-based assessment training to aid in clinical management of oral feeding. For infants in the control group, clinicians caring for these infants will define the feeding plan based on their daily assessment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
74
Speech therapists will use cue-based protocols to guide feeds
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Time interval in days from introduction to attainment of independent oral feeding
Time frame: 4-20 days
Postnatal age at discharge in days
Time frame: 34 to 40 weeks postnatal age
Length of hospital stay in days
Time frame: 10-60 days
Average weight gain during the transition from tube to oral feeding
Time frame: 10-60 days
Total number of tube feeding events per infant during the transition from tube to oral feeding
Time frame: 10-60 days
Follow up phone call
A follow-up phone call 3 months after NICU discharge will also be performed to assess long-term outcomes including the need for tube feeding or hospitalizations related to feeding/nutrition problems.
Time frame: 4-6 months after birth
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