Uni- and multimodal sensory-supported interventions for very preterm and extremely preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit: An overview of systematic reviews and interventional studies.

Background: Very and extremely preterm infants (VEPIs) experience sensory deprivation in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). While various sensory-supported interventions might improve immediate physiological response, their impact on long-term development remains unclear. Additionally, these interventions may pose challenges in the NICU environment due to complex treatments and monitoring requirements.

Aims: This review aimed to understand the current evidence on sensory-supported interventions in the NICU, identify the components of these interventions and determine their effects on the VEPIs.

Study Design: A systematic search across nine electronic databases (PubMed, EBSCO, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, Cochrane trial, IEEE Xplore DL and ACM DL) was conducted in December 2020 and updated in September 2022. The search gathers information on sensory-supported interventions for VEPIs in the NICU.

Results: The search yielded 23 systematic reviews and 22 interventional studies, categorized into auditory (19), tactile/kinesthetic (5), positional/movement support (7), visual (1) and multisensory (13) interventions. While unimodal and multimodal interventions showed short-term benefits, their long-term effects on VEPIs are indeterminate. Translating these findings into clinical practice remains a challenge due to identified gaps.

Conclusion: Our reviews indicate that sensory-supported interventions have a transient impact, with intervention studies reporting positive effects. Future research should develop and test comprehensive, continuous multisensory interventions tailored for the early NICU stage.

Relevance To Clinical Practice: Multimodal sensory interventions show promise for VEPIs, but long-term effects need further study. Standardizing protocols for NICU integration and parental involvement is crucial. Ongoing research and collaboration are essential for optimizing interventions and personalized care.