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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2025 Apr 3;25(1):273.
doi: 10.1186/s12887-025-05626-4.

The effect of combined non-pharmacological interventions on venous blood sampling pain in preterm infants: a clinical trial study

Fatemeh Yadollahzadeh  1 , Zahra Akbarianrad  2 , Seyedeh Roghayeh Jafarian-Amiri  3 , Ali Zabihi  4 , Parvin Aziznejadroshan  5 , Hossein-Ali Nikbakht  6
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The effect of combined non-pharmacological interventions on venous blood sampling pain in preterm infants: a clinical trial study

Fatemeh Yadollahzadeh et al. BMC Pediatr. .

Abstract

Background: Using non-pharmacological methods to reduce the pain of hospitalized infants is one of the most important priorities in the health of newborns. Pain relief during painful procedures can help prevent unwanted physical and psychological effects. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of combined non-pharmacological interventions on venous blood sampling pain in preterm infants.

Methods: In this clinical trial study, 88 preterm infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Rouhani Hospital was randomly assigned to four groups of sucrose (S), the combined group of sucrose and non-nutritive sucking (NS), the combined group of swaddle and sucrose (SS) and the combined group of sucrose, non-nutritive sucking and swaddling (NSS). In order to collect information, were used the premature Infant Pain Profile Scale (PIPP) and demographic characteristics questionnaire.

Results: This study showed that during blood sampling, the difference in the mean pain score of two groups of S and NS was equal to 3.54 (95% CI = 1.85, 5.24) and in two groups S and NSS was equal to 4.68 (95% CI = 2.99, 6.38), and these differences were significant (P < 0.001). In addition, the mean pain difference in all study groups was significant in two time periods before-during and during-after blood sampling (P < 0.001). Also, the mean pain difference in the two time periods before-during and during-after in NS and NSS groups was significant compared to the control group (sucrose) (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, the use of combined non-pharmacological interventions of NSS has been more effective in reducing the pain caused by venous blood sampling than other conditions where two or one non-pharmacological intervention were used.

Keywords: Blood sampling; Non nutrition sucking; PIPP; Pain management; Premature infants; Sucrose; Swaddle.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: We confirm that all methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of the Babol University of Medical Sciences with code IR.MUBABOL.REC.1401.167. Written informed consent/informed assent was obtained from the parents of the neonates. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Selection of the study participants
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mean pain score in the intervention and control groups in the three time periods examined in the study
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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