Comparison of parameters between three epochs
| Parameter | Baseline (3 weeks) | Feasibility phase (15 days) | Intervention phase (6 weeks) | P value* |
| No of neonates admitted | 133 | 101 | 296 | |
| Gestational age (weeks) Mean (SD) | 36.4 (1.9) | 35.9 (2.2) | 36.3 (1.9) | 0.1 |
| Birth weight (grams) Mean (SD) | 2443 (576) | 2376 (614) | 2375 (588) | 0.6 |
| Age at admission Median (1st–3rd quartile) | 0 (0–4) | 0 (0–2) | 0 (0–3) | 0.5 |
| Male | 82 (61.7) | 73 (72.3) | 176 (59.5) | 0.07 |
| Hospital stay (days) Median (1st–3rd quartile) | 2 (1–4) | 2 (1–3) | 2 (1–3) | 0.009 |
| No of neonates requiring oxygen therapy (%) | 107 (80.4) | 80 (79.2) | 230 (77.8) | 0.8 |
| No of very low birthweight neonates | 7 (5.3) | 7 (6.9) | 15 (5.1) | 0.8 |
| Neonates in whom oxygen was stopped within 24 hours† | 39 (36.4) | 149 (64.7) | <0.001 | |
| Oxygen cylinder consumption median (IQR) | 8 (7–8) | 8 (7–8) | 3 (3–5) | |
| Nasal injury | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Died at hospital | 12 (9.0) | 8 (7.9) | 17 (5.7) | 0.4 |
Values are presented as n (%) unless specified.
*Χ2 test/one-way ANOVA/Kruskal-Wallis test as applicable.
†Denominator is number of neonates requiring oxygen.
ANOVA, analysis of variance.