Preterm infants were randomly assig

Preterm infants were randomly assigned to either the control
or the experimental group. The group of preterms randomized
to receive intervention was stimulated using the
program proposed by Fucile et al.8 during gavage. The intervention
providers (three speech therapists) underwent a
training program to standardize the stimulation procedure and
rigorously followed protocol. Stimulation was performed once
a day for 15 minutes until preterm infants started oral diets,
for a period of at least 10 days, using a gloved finger for perioral
and intraoral stimulation and a pacifier during gavage.
The control group received its diet via gavage and a simulated
intervention from the speech therapists. The simulated
intervention consisted of standing around the incubator for a
period of time similar to that spent for the control group,
adequately positioning preterm infants, providing diet via orogastric
tube, not performing the stimulus and not using a pacifier
during gavage (sham procedure). The staff was instructed
not to use any other form of oral stimulation beyond that
described in the present study