Non-pharmacological Methods in Pain Managment During Heel Stick in Preterm Infants

Summary

Aims and objectives: This study was performed to examine the effects of Non-nutritive sucking, breast milk odor, and Facilitated tucking on preterm infant pain before, during, and after heel-stick procedures.

Design: A randomized clinical trial in a single center.

Methods:

The study was conducted on 144 premature infants with a gestational age of 31 to 36 weeks and 6 days hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit of Shahid Sayad Shirazi Hospital in Iran. Neonates were randomly assigned to four groups: 36 babies were included in the Non-nutritive sucking(1st Group), 36 in breast milk odor (2nd Group), 36 in Facilitated tucking (3rd Group), and 36 in the control group (4th Group). Pain score, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and respiratory rate of the babies in all groups before, during, and after the procedure were evaluated by two nurses independently.

Conditions

• Pain, Acute
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Breast milk odor group

The researcher applied the breast milk that dripped on the pad for 3 minutes before the heel stick for 36 premature newborns in the breast milk odor group. About three cc breast milk dripped onto a sterile pad and placed at a distance of 10 cm from the nose of the newborn. It continued until 3 minutes after the invasive procedure. Heart rate, arterial oxygen saturation, and respiration rate were recorded in this group before the study. Then, to evaluate the pain in the infants, a video camera was placed on the incubator. The infants in each group were filmed from three minutes before the procedure to three minutes after. Neonatal pain was measured at 1, 2, and 3 minutes before, during, and at 1, 2, and 3 minutes after the procedure by two researchers independently using the new version Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP).

PROCEDURE

Facilitated tucking group

The Facilitated tucking position was given to 36 premature newborns in the Facilitated tucking group, from 3 minutes before to 3 minutes after the heel stick procedure. Premature newborns were kept in the facilitated tucking position by the investigator using the incubator windows without opening the incubator cover to prevent heat loss of the newborn. Heart rate, arterial oxygen saturation, and respiration rate were recorded in this group before the study. Then, to evaluate the pain in the infants, a video camera was placed on the incubator. The infants in each group were filmed from three minutes before the procedure to three minutes after. Neonatal pain was measured at 1, 2, and 3 minutes before, during, and at 1, 2, and 3 minutes after the procedure by two researchers independently using the new version Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP).

PROCEDURE

Non-nutritive sucking group

36 premature newborns who were in the non-nutritive sucking group were given a silicone pacifier suitable for the week of the baby's mouth from 3 minutes before to 3 minutes after the heel stick. Heart rate, arterial oxygen saturation, and respiration rate were recorded in this group before the study. Then, to evaluate the pain in the infants, a video camera was placed on the incubator. The infants in each group were filmed from three minutes before the procedure to three minutes after. Neonatal pain was measured at 1, 2, and 3 minutes before, during, and at 1, 2, and 3 minutes after the procedure by two researchers independently using the new version Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP).

PROCEDURE

Control group

The control group will consist of 36 premature newborns who are routinely applied in the clinic. In the clinic where the research was conducted, no attempt is made to reduce pain during heel stick. Heart rate, arterial oxygen saturation, and respiration rate were recorded in this group before the study. Then, to evaluate the pain in the infants, a video camera was placed on the incubator. The infants in each group were filmed from three minutes before the procedure to three minutes after. Neonatal pain was measured at 1, 2, and 3 minutes before, during, and at 1, 2, and 3 minutes after the procedure by two researchers independently using the new version Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Negarin Akbari

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Negarin Akbari, PhD student · Istanbul un'vers'ty cerrahpasa-Istanbul,Turkey

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

1 Day

Max Age

10 Days

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-12-15

Primary Completion

2021-12-25

Completion

2022-01-02

Countries

• Iran

Study Locations