Experimental Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Oro-Motor Stimulation for Improving Feeding on Preterm Babies Admitted in Tertiary Care Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Prematurity is the leading cause of death in preterm babies in India. Those who survive are liable to have physiological handicaps of prematurity. Oro motor stimulation improves sucking and swallowing reflexes of Preterm neonates. An experimental study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of Oro-motor stimulation on preterm babies in NICU at Pradyumna Bal Memorial Hospital, Kalinga institute of medical sciences, KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar. The objectives of the study were to assess the feeding difficulty of preterm babies, to assess the weight gain on experimental and control group and to compare the effectiveness of Oro-motor stimulation in control and experimental group. The conceptual frame work adopted for the study was based on J. W. Kenny’s open system model. Observational check list used as data collection tool for this study.30 preterm babies ( 15 in experimental and 15 in control group) were selected through purposive sampling technique. Pre-test was conducted on 1st day in NICU. Post test was conducted after 15 days by using the same tool. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Post test t value is 8.55 which is more than the table value. There was significant variation of preterm babies’ weight level among experimental group. All the findings revealed that the Oro motor stimulation was effective in preterm babies. The study can be implemented in Nursing Education, practice and research.