Medical and sociodemographic characteristics related to feeding therapy referral and service provision for preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Objective: To determine the scope of feeding therapy for preterm infants in the NICU and medical and sociodemographic factors related to feeding therapy referral and service provision.

Study Design: Retrospective study of infants born <37 weeks gestation in a level IV NICU between January 2017 and December 2019.

Result: Among 547 infants, 27% of infants received a feeding therapy referral, and 74% of those referrals were problem-based referrals. Feeding therapy referrals were more likely among infants with lower gestational ages and birthweights (both p < 0.001). In addition, infants with greater medical complexity, who required oxygen at 36 weeks, who had a history of mechanical ventilation, and who had a higher postmenstrual age at discharge were more likely to be referred to feeding therapy (all p < 0.001).

Conclusion: While medical factors relate to feeding therapy referrals, there are other complex person and system factors that determine feeding therapy referral and service provision.