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Clinical Trial
. 1997 Sep;77(2):F143-4.
doi: 10.1136/fn.77.2.f143.

Neonatal pain response to heel stick vs venepuncture for routine blood sampling

V S Shah  1 , A Taddio, S Bennett, B D Speidel
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Neonatal pain response to heel stick vs venepuncture for routine blood sampling

V S Shah et al. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 1997 Sep.

Abstract

Neonatal pain response and adverse effects and maternal anxiety were assessed in 27 infants who were randomly allocated to venepuncture or heel stick. Pain was assessed by nurses using the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) and a three point scale for the mothers. NIPS scores were higher in the heel stick group compared with the venepuncture group. Maternal anxiety was higher before the procedure while perception of an infant's pain was lower in the venepuncture group compared with the heel stick group. Venepuncture is less painful than heel stick in newborn infants undergoing routine blood sampling.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparison of heel stick and venepuncture scores in 27 infants.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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