A multicentre neonatal manikin study showed a large heterogeneity in tactile stimulation for apnoea of prematurity.

Aim: Apnoea of prematurity requires prompt intervention to prevent long-term adverse outcomes, but specific recommendations about the stimulation approach are lacking. Our study investigated the modalities of tactile stimulation for apnoea of prematurity in different settings.

Methods: In this multi-country observational prospective study, nurses and physicians of the neonatal intensive care units were asked to perform a tactile stimulation on a preterm neonatal manikin simulating an apnoea.