The Effects Of Non-nutritive Sucking On Growth And Development In Preterm Low Birth Weight Infants

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical effects of non-nutritive sucking on physical growth and digestive function in preterm low birth weight infants,and to explore the different effects among providing non-nutritive sucking before,during and after tube feeding.MethodA total of 120 preterm low birth weight infants were enrolled by convenient sampling in a general hospital of Tianjin from January 2016 to July 2016,and randomly were divided into a control group(group A)and three intervention groups(group B,group C,group D),30 cases in each group.The infants of group A received standard treatment and care,the infants of group B received non-nutritive sucking before tube feeding,the infants of group C received non-nutritive sucking during tube feeding,and the infants of group D received non-nutritive sucking after tube feeding.The general information,the indicators of physical growth and digestive function were recorded and compared.Using SPSS16.0 statistical software to entry and analyze data,and statistical methods included descriptive statistics analysis,one-way ANOVA,non-parametric test,chi square test and multiple comparisons between groups.Results1.There were 3 preterm low birth weight infants lost to follow-up.One of them was transferred to another hospital,and the others’ conditions were too unstable to continue.Finally,117 cases took part in the study.The group A was 29 cases.The group B was 29 cases.The group C was 29 cases.The group D was 30 cases.The differences in gestational age,birth weight,body length,head circumference,gender,1 min Apgar score and delivery ways were not statistically significant(P>0.05).The four groups were comparable.2.The difference in the velocity of weight was not statistically significant between 4 groups(P>0.05).The differences in the velocity of body length,the velocity of head circumference and the time of reaching birth weight were statistically significant between 4 groups(P<0.05).The multiple comparisons showed that therewere significant differences between the group A and the group B,the group C,the group D(P<0.05),but the differences in three intervention groups were not statistically significant(P>0.05).3.The difference in the incidence of abdominal distension(48.3% in group A,13.8% in group B,10.3% in group C,13.3% in group D)was statistically significant between 4 groups(P<0.05).The multiple comparisons showed that there were significant differences between the group A and the group B,the group C,the group D(P<0.05),but the differences in three intervention groups were not statistically significant(P>0.05).The difference in the incidence of gastric retention(89.7% in group A,55.2% in group B,51.7% in group C,43.3% in group D)was statistically significant between 4 groups(P<0.05).The multiple comparisons showed that there were significant differences between the group A and the group B,the group C,the group D(P<0.05),but the differences in three intervention groups were not statistically significant(P>0.05).The differences in the meconium discharge time and the transition time from tube to independent oral feeding were statistically significant between 4 groups(P<0.05).The multiple comparisons showed that there were significant differences between the group A and the group B,the group C,the group D(P<0.05),but the differences in three intervention groups were not statistically significant(P>0.05).4.The differences in the length of hospital stay were not statistically significant between 4 groups(P>0.05).Conclusion1.Non-nutritive sucking can promote the growth of length and head circumference,shorten the time of reaching birth weight,and facilitate the physical growth in preterm low birth weight infants.2.Non-nutritive sucking can improve the digestive function,reduce the incidence of abdominal distention and gastric retention,accelerate meconium discharge,shorten the transition time from tube to independent oral feeding.3.There were no difference in the effects of physical growth and digestive function among three intervention groups,so nursing staffs can provide non-nutritive sucking to preterm low birth weight infants based on their time.