Developmental Interventions Used for Premature Infants in the NICU

Developmental Interventions Used for Premature Infants in the NICU: An Integrative Literature Review Macy Swanager Research Advisor: Kim Amer, PhD, RN Abstract Background: Various developmental interventions have been used to promote premature infants’ health in the NICU, but there has been limited research on which of these interventions leads to the best outcomes in reducing stress-based symptoms in the premature infant. Objectives: The purpose of this integrative literature review was to assess the current trends in developmental intervention strategies that are being used in the NICU that result in positive outcomes in premature infants. Method: An integrative literature review was conducted using the databases of CINAHL, Proquest, and Cochrane Library. Search terms included premature infants, premature babies, neonatal intensive care unit, developmental interventions, developmental strategies, therapeutic positioning, fetal positioning, containment, noise reduction, light reduction, physiological response, and adaptation. Findings: Three developmental interventions were found that are used in the NICU to promote positive health outcomes in premature infants: 1) therapeutic positioning, 2) noise reduction, and 3) light reduction. Of the three interventions, therapeutic positioning had the most definitive results that lead to positive outcomes in the premature infant. Those positive outcomes include heart rate stabilization, decreased hypoxemic events, and better sleep. Conclusion: Therapeutic positioning is the most definitive and commonly used developmental intervention. Future studies are needed to investigate strategies to decrease noise and light in the NICU setting