Objective
To determine the scope of feeding therapy for preterm infants in the NICU and medical and sociodemographic factors related to feeding therapy referral and service provision.
Study design
Retrospective study of infants born <37 weeks gestation in a level IV NICU between January 2017 and December 2019.
Result
Among 547 infants, 27% of infants received a feeding therapy referral, and 74% of those referrals were problem-based referrals. Feeding therapy referrals were more likely among infants with lower gestational ages and birthweights (both p < 0.001). In addition, infants with greater medical complexity, who required oxygen at 36 weeks, who had a history of mechanical ventilation, and who had a higher postmenstrual age at discharge were more likely to be referred to feeding therapy (all p < 0.001).
Conclusion
While medical factors relate to feeding therapy referrals, there are other complex person and system factors that determine feeding therapy referral and service provision.
Quote: To our knowledge, this is the fist study that describes patterns of feeding therapy referral and service provision in a level IV NICU. The results from this study contribute to our understanding of how referrals and feeding therapy uptake occur in the NICU based on infant characteristics. Understanding who gets feeding therapy and how feeding therapy is utilized is the first step towards improving service delivery and subsequently, feeding outcomes. The results highlight the potential for feeding therapists to be more effectively integrated into the NICU team to address the unique developmental and feeding needs of preterm infants, thereby mitigating the neurodevelopmental sequelae of prematurity.