Multisensory stimulation for promoting development and preventing morbidity in preterm infants.
Katarzyna Wróblewska-Seniuk, Mikaela Lenells, Marcus G Prescott et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of multisensory stimulation on neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants, comparing it to standard care and single-sensory interventions. The analysis included 19 trials with 1554 infants. The findings suggest that multisensory stimulation may have little to no effect on mortality during hospitalization (RR 0.97).
Key findings
- Multisensory stimulation showed little to no difference in mortality during initial hospitalization (RR 0.97).
- The evidence regarding the effect of multisensory stimulation on cerebral palsy is very uncertain (RR 0.67).
- No studies reported on major neurodevelopmental disabilities at 18 to 24 months.
- Multisensory stimulation may improve weight gain during the intervention, but specific results were not detailed.
Why it matters
Understanding the impact of multisensory stimulation on preterm infants is crucial for developing interventions that may enhance neurodevelopment and reduce morbidity. Clinicians can consider these findings when designing care strategies for this vulnerable population.