Randomized clinical trial investigating the effect of consistent, developmentally-appropriate, and evidence-based multisensory exposures in the NICU

Roberta Pineda; Joan Smith; Jessica Roussin; Michael Wallendorf; Polly Kellner; Graham Colditz

doi:10.1038/s41372-021-01078-7

Randomized clinical trial investigating the effect of consistent, developmentally-appropriate, and evidence-based multisensory exposures in the NICU

J Perinatol. 2021 Oct;41(10):2449-2462. doi: 10.1038/s41372-021-01078-7. Epub 2021 May 19.

Authors

Roberta Pineda^{1

2

3

4}, Joan Smith⁵, Jessica Roussin⁶, Michael Wallendorf⁷, Polly Kellner⁸, Graham Colditz⁹

Affiliations

¹ Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. bobbi.pineda@chan.usc.edu.
² Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA. bobbi.pineda@chan.usc.edu.
³ Gehr Family Center for Health Systems Science and Innovation, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. bobbi.pineda@chan.usc.edu.
⁴ Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA. bobbi.pineda@chan.usc.edu.
⁵ Department of Quality, Safety, and Practice Excellence, St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis, MO, USA.
⁶ Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
⁷ Department of Biostatistics, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
⁸ Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁹ Department of Surgery, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA.

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate the effect of a manualized multisensory program, applied across NICU hospitalization, on infant and parent outcomes.

Study design: Seventy parent-infant dyads (born ≤32 weeks gestation) in a Level IV NICU were randomized at birth to the multisensory program or standard-of-care. Parents in the multisensory group administered prespecified amounts of age-appropriate, evidence-based sensory interventions to their infants each day during NICU hospitalization according to the Supporting and Enhancing NICU Sensory Experiences (SENSE) program.

Results: Infants who received the SENSE program had more lethargy on the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) (p = 0.05), even after controlling for medical and social risk (p = 0.043), and had higher Communication scores on the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (p = 0.04) at 1-year corrected age, but this relationship failed to reach significance after controlling for medical and social risk (p = 0.12).

Conclusion: The SENSE program shows promise for improving outcomes, but more research with larger sample sizes is needed.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Child Development*
Gestational Age
Hospitalization
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature*
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal*
Intensive Care, Neonatal / methods
Parents
Physical Stimulation

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding