A Randomized Controlled Trial on Investigating the Effectiveness of Earplugs on Physiological and Behavioral Responses and Weight Gain in Preterm Neonates

A randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the effectiveness of earplugs on selected physiological and behavioral responses among preterm neonates, and their association with weight gain, using block randomization with computer-generated random numbers and the sealed envelope technique to recruit 223 preterm neonates born between 30 to less than 37 weeks of gestation, with a birth weight between 1000 grams and less than 2500 grams.A pair of earplugs was applied to each preterm infant in the study group in the SNCU.Heart rate, oxygen saturation, sleep duration, and behavioural responses were measured four times a day for five consecutive days.The statistical significance of these parameters was determined by repeated measures ANOVA, and Regression models.The mean heart rate of preterm neonates in the study group was statistically not significant during the intervention period.However, the application of earplugs improved oxygen saturation levels, increased sleep duration, and enhanced behavioural responses.There was a statistically significant (p<0.05)increase in weight gain during the intervention and similar trends were noted during the 2nd and 4th-week follow-up.It was determined that earplugs were effective in maintaining higher oxygen saturation, increasing sleep duration, enhancing behavioural responses, and were associated with weight gain.Non-invasive, cost-effective noise control measures, such as earplugs, can be recommended to improve physiological parameters like oxygen saturation, sleep duration, behavioural patterns, and weight gain in preterm neonates.