Family music therapy combined with oral motor intervention in preterm infants: A randomized controlled trial on feeding competence and parental mental health

Objective

The study aimed to evaluate the combined effects of family music therapy and oral motor intervention on oral feeding outcomes, oral motor function, and parental anxiety and depression in preterm infants, with the goal of providing new effective strategies for preterm infants’ feeding.

Design

This was a randomized controlled trial.

Setting and Participants

A total of 130 preterm infants from the neonatal ward were enrolled and randomly assigned to a control group and a study group in a 1:1 ratio using a computer-generated random sequence.

Methods

The control group received standard neonatal care and oral motor intervention, while the study group additionally received family music therapy. The primary outcome measures included oral feeding outcomes, oral motor function scores, and parental anxiety and depression scores.

Results

On the 7th day, statistically significant differences in normal morphology scores were observed between the two groups (P < 0.05). On the 14th day, significant differences were noted in the Oral Mobility Scale scores (P < 0.05). The study group had shorter total oral feeding transition time, nasogastric tube indwelling time, and hospital stay. There were no significant differences in complications between the two groups (P > 0.05). Post-intervention, parental anxiety and depression scores were significantly lower in the study group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The findings of this study suggest that combining family music therapy with oral motor intervention improved oral motor function, accelerated the feeding process in preterm infants, and reduced parental anxiety and depression.