Cue-based oral feeding clinical pathway results in earlier attainment of full oral feeding in premature infants

Objective: To study whether a cue- based clinical pathway for oral feeding initiation and advancement of premature infants would result in earlier achievement of full oral feeding. Study Design: Age of achievement of full oral intake was compared for two groups of preterm infants; a prospective study group vs historic cohort controls. Study infants had oral feedings managed by nurses using a clinical pathway that relied on infant behavioral readiness signs to initiate and advance oral feedings. Controls had oral feedings managed by physician orders. Result: Fifty- one infants ( n 28 study and n 23 control) were studied. Gender distribution, gestational age, birth weight and ventilator days were not different between groups. Study infants reached full oral feedings 6 days earlier than controls ( 36 +/- 1 3/ 7 weeks of postmenstrual age ( PMA) vs 36 6/ 7 +/- 1 4/ 7 weeks of PMA, P = 0.02). Conclusion: The cue- based clinical pathway for oral feeding initiation and advancement of premature infants resulted in earlier achievement of full oral feeding.