Feeding Progression in Preterm Infants

NCT ID: NCT02027688

Last Updated: 2015-12-02

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

55 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2014-07-31

Study Completion Date

2015-04-30

Brief Summary

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Preterm infants face many feeding challenges during hospitalization which can prolong hospitalization, raise parental anxiety and can lead to medical instability. The Feeding Progression study will randomize preterm infants to one of two currently accepted oral feeding schedules; oral feed attempts every 3 hours or every 6 hours. The study will collect data on oral feeding success, milk transfer, sucking strength, growth and medical complications.

Detailed Description

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Preterm infants are at high risk for feeding issues. Feeding difficulties lead to prolonged hospitalization, increase medical complications and raise parental anxiety. The transition from tube feeding to oral feeding is an especially important step in a preterm infant's early life. Currently, there is limited evidence to guide this transition. There are two commonly used schedules for transitioning preterm infants to oral feeding: an every 6 hour schedule and an every 3 hour schedule. However, there is currently no evidence to guide providers in their choice of oral feeding schedule.

The primary objective of this study is to explore whether an every 6 (q6) hour oral feeding schedule will improve time to full oral feedings as compared to an every 3 (q3) hour oral feeding schedule. The secondary objectives are to test whether every 6 hour feeding allows for improved medical stability and oral-motor coordination as compared to the other commonly used q3 hour schedule. Each infant will be randomly assigned to a q6 hour or q3 hour oral feeding schedule. Data on oral feeding progression, respiratory status and oral motor proficiency will be collected and compared. The study will collect data on how long it takes each infant to get to full oral feeds, respiratory status throughout their time of oral feeding, whether there were any episodes of medical complications, measures of oral motor feeding skills, and the time to discharge from the hospital. This study is a crucial first step towards determining which feeding schedule is optimal for preterm infants to ensure timely attainment of full oral feeds and hospital discharge without compromising medical stability.

Conditions

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Infant, Premature, Diseases Feeding Behavior Feeding Patterns

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Every 6 hour Feeding Schedule

Infants in this arm will be offered oral feedings every 6 hours if they are safe and ready to feed by mouth.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

q6 hour oral feeding schedule

Intervention Type OTHER

The intervention is the schedule under which stable infants are offered oral feeding attempts: every 6 hours.

Every 3 Hour Oral Feeding

Infants in this arm will be offered oral feedings every 3 hours if they are safe and ready to feed by mouth.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

q3 hour oral feeding schedule

Intervention Type OTHER

The intervention is the schedule under which stable infants are offered oral feeding attempts: every 3 hours.

Interventions

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q6 hour oral feeding schedule

The intervention is the schedule under which stable infants are offered oral feeding attempts: every 6 hours.

Intervention Type OTHER

q3 hour oral feeding schedule

The intervention is the schedule under which stable infants are offered oral feeding attempts: every 3 hours.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Gestational age between 23 0/7-33 0/7 weeks
* Eligible for oral (PO) feeding as determined by the attending Neonatologist

Exclusion Criteria

* Infants with major congenital malformations
* Infants with chromosomal defects
* Diagnosis of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome or opiate withdrawal
* Grade 3 or 4 Intraventricular Hemorrhage
Maximum Eligible Age

120 Days

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Pennsylvania

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Sara DeMauro

MD, MSCE

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Sara B DeMauro, MD, MSCE

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Locations

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Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

Pennsylvania Hospital

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Other Identifiers

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819247

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id