Effects of two different positions on stress, pain and feeding tolerance of preterm infants during tube feeding

Aims This study aims to investigate the effects of semi‐elevated right lateral and semi‐elevated supine positions on feeding tolerance, stress severity and pain levels among premature infants during tube feeding. Methods This was a randomized cross‐over clinical trial. A total of 34 premature infants who were fed via orogastric tube were included in this study. Feeding tolerance was assessed by abdominal circumference measurements and checking gastric residuals; this assessment was single blinded. Physiological values were evaluated before, during and after tube feeding. The stress severity and pain levels of the infants were also evaluated independently by the researchers before, during and after tube feeding. A significance level of .05 was accepted for all statistical analyses. Results There were no difference between infants' vital signs, stress and pain scores according to feeding positions before tube feeding (p > .05). By feeding positions, a statistically significant difference was found between infants' vital signs, abdominal circumference and gastric residuals of infants during tube feeding. Pain and stress levels of infants were found to be significantly higher in the semi‐elevated supine position during tube feeding (p