Effects of Oral Stimulation Performed by Parents to Improve Sucking in Neonates Hospitalized in the NICU

NCT ID: NCT07060573

Last Updated: 2025-09-15

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

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

32 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-07-18

Study Completion Date

2025-12-31

Brief Summary

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This randomized clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an oral stimulation program to improve sucking in preterm neonates hospitalized in the NICU. The study compares two groups: one receiving the intervention from a physiotherapist and the other from trained parents. The stimulation program includes 4 extraoral and 4 intraoral exercises applied once daily for 14 consecutive days. The primary outcome is improvement in the POFRAS score. Secondary outcomes include the time to exclusive oral feeding, nasogastric tube withdrawal, weight at discharge, hospital stay duration, and parental adherence. This study addresses the potential role of parent participation in neonatal rehabilitation in public hospitals with limited human resources.

Detailed Description

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This single-blind, randomized clinical trial aims to compare the effectiveness of oral rehabilitation performed by trained parents versus physiotherapists to improve sucking in preterm neonates hospitalized in the NICU at the Hospital Civil de Guadalajara "Fray Antonio Alcalde," during the period July-October 2025.

Eligible neonates will be randomized into two groups:

Group A (Control): Intervention performed daily by a trained physiotherapist.

Group B (Experimental): Intervention performed daily by the parents after structured training and supervised implementation.

The oral stimulation program consists of 4 extraoral and 4 intraoral exercises designed to promote the development of sucking, swallowing, and breathing coordination. Each session lasts approximately 15 minutes and will be applied once daily for 14 consecutive days or until full oral feeding is achieved.

The primary outcome will be improvement in oral feeding readiness, assessed using the validated Spanish version of the POFRAS (Preterm Oral Feeding Readiness Assessment Scale). Secondary outcomes include: achievement of exclusive oral feeding, time to withdrawal of nasogastric tube, weight gain, hospital length of stay, and parent adherence to the protocol.

Randomization will use permuted blocks, and the outcome assessor will be blinded to group assignment. This study explores the feasibility and impact of parent-administered interventions in a public hospital setting with limited specialized personnel.

Conditions

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Premature Infant Sucking Behavior

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Parental Oral Stimulation Intervention

Parents are trained to perform a standardized oral stimulation protocol (4 extraoral and 4 intraoral exercises) once daily for 14 days.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Parental Oral Stimulation Protocol

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This intervention consists of a structured oral stimulation protocol composed of 4 extraoral and 4 intraoral exercises designed to improve oral motor function in preterm neonates. Exercises include perioral massage, stimulation of sucking reflex, and non-nutritive sucking using a pacifier. The protocol is administered once daily for 14 consecutive days. In this study arm, the intervention is performed by parents, previously trained and supervised in the neonatal unit.

Physiotherapist-led Oral Stimulation

A licensed physiotherapist performs the same standardized oral stimulation protocol once daily for 14 days

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Physiotherapist-led Oral Stimulation

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This intervention consists of a structured oral stimulation protocol composed of 4 extraoral and 4 intraoral exercises designed to improve oral motor function in preterm neonates. Exercises include perioral massage, stimulation of sucking reflex, and non-nutritive sucking using a pacifier. The protocol is administered once daily for 14 consecutive days. In this study arm, the intervention is performed by a licensed physiotherapist.

Interventions

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Parental Oral Stimulation Protocol

This intervention consists of a structured oral stimulation protocol composed of 4 extraoral and 4 intraoral exercises designed to improve oral motor function in preterm neonates. Exercises include perioral massage, stimulation of sucking reflex, and non-nutritive sucking using a pacifier. The protocol is administered once daily for 14 consecutive days. In this study arm, the intervention is performed by parents, previously trained and supervised in the neonatal unit.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Physiotherapist-led Oral Stimulation

This intervention consists of a structured oral stimulation protocol composed of 4 extraoral and 4 intraoral exercises designed to improve oral motor function in preterm neonates. Exercises include perioral massage, stimulation of sucking reflex, and non-nutritive sucking using a pacifier. The protocol is administered once daily for 14 consecutive days. In this study arm, the intervention is performed by a licensed physiotherapist.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Neonates with corrected gestational age of 34 to 36 weeks
* Clinically stable to receive oral stimulation
* Informed consent obtained from parents or legal guardians

Exclusion Criteria

* Orofacial congenital malformations
* Severe neuromuscular disease
* Conditions contraindicating oral feeding
Minimum Eligible Age

34 Weeks

Maximum Eligible Age

36 Weeks

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Hospital Civil de Guadalajara

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Nelsi Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Antiguo Hospital Civil Guadalajara Fray Antonio Alcalde

Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Mexico

Central Contacts

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Nelsi Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez, subspecialty

Role: CONTACT

+5213312567344

Jose Armando Labra Zepeda, Fellow

Role: CONTACT

+5213313249586

Facility Contacts

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José Armando Labra Zepeda, fellow

Role: primary

+523313249586

Nelsi Alejandra González González, subspecialty

Role: backup

+523312567344

Other Identifiers

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CEI 149/25

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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