Research Article

Effect of Four Approaches to Oral Feeding Progression on Clinical Outcomes in Preterm Infants

Table 3

PMA and time in days to full oral feeding and discharge from first oral feeding.

Intervention groups
Group 1: 32 slow ()Group 2: 32 max ()Group 3: 34 slow ()Group 4: 34 max ()

Mean time in days from 1st oral feeding to full oral feedings (SD; min–max)17.8 (1.9; 14.0–21.6)17.8 (1.6; 14.6–21.0)14.1 (1.9; 10.8–17.4)8.82 (1.9; 5.1–12.4)

Mean PMA in weeks at full oral feeding (SD; min–max)34.8 (0.286; 34.2–35.4)34.8 (0.243; 34.3–35.3)36.01 (0.253; 35.4–36.4)35.1 (0.284; 34.6–35.7)

Mean time in days from 1st oral feeding to discharge (SD; min–max)25.7 (2.2; 21.2–30.1)24.8 (1.9; 21.1–28.6)19.33 (1.9; 15.4–23.1)15.12 (2.2; 10.8–19.4)

PMA in weeks at discharge (SD; min–max)35.9 (0.337; 35.3–36.6)35.8 (0.286; 35.3–36.4)36.7 (0.286; 36.1–37.2)36.0 (0.329; 35.4–36.7)

1Significantly different from Groups 1 and 2 at p < 0.05.
2Significantly different from Groups 1 and 2 at p < 0.01.
3Significantly different from Group 1 at p = 0.03.