Date of Award
Spring 4-21-2026
Document Type
Capstone
Degree Name
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Department
Occupational Therapy
First Advisor
Lesley Khan-Farooqi
Second Advisor
Eric Hicks
Medical Subject Headings
Infant, Premature, Occupational Therapy, Sensory Processing, Sleep, Infant Behavior
Abstract
Premature infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit are exposed to sensory experiences that differ from those of the intrauterine environment. During the capstone experience, observed patterns in the clinical setting aligned with current research, indicating that environmental factors such as increased noise, bright lighting, and frequent caregiving interactions may affect physiological stability and sleep organization in this group. Sleep participation is crucial for early neurological development, behavioral regulation, and overall health outcomes in premature infants. This doctoral capstone project focused on developing and implementing an occupational therapy-informed program to promote sleep participation and early self-regulation in the NICU setting. The program was guided by sensory integration concepts and occupation-based perspectives, with particular emphasis on environmental awareness and caregiver education as components of developmentally supportive care. Program components included a structured caregiver guidebook, providing in both English and Spanish and a video based-training series for NICU staff, developed to translate evidence-informed neonatal care principles into daily clinical practice. These resources aimed to promote sensory-informed caregiving approaches, safeguard opportunities for restorative sleep, and boost caregiver confidence when responding to infant cues. Overall, the program enhances development support for premature infants during hospitalization by combining clinical observation with evidence-based occupational therapy practices.
Recommended Citation
Rodriguez, K. (2026). Promoting Premature Infant Development Through Sensory Integration: An OT Program for Sleep and Regulation in the NICU. [Doctoral project, University of St Augustine for Health Sciences]. SOAR @ USA: Student Capstone Papers Collection. https://doi.org/10.46409/sr.SHAH4466
Related Content
This capstone was presented as a poster presentation at the Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium, available as: Rodriguez, K., Khan-Farooqi, L., & Serna, V. (2026, April 1). Rest & Regulate: NICU Sleep and Regulation Program. Poster presented at the Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium, University of St Augustine for Health Sciences. Retrieved from https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2026/45
Comments
Capstone project submitted to the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Occupational Therapy.