Original Article

Journal of Perinatology (2009) 29, 51–56; doi:10.1038/jp.2008.113; published online 4 September 2008

Enhanced kangaroo mother care for heel lance in preterm neonates: a crossover trial

C C Johnston1, F Filion1,2, M Campbell-Yeo1,3, C Goulet2, L Bell4, K McNaughton1 and J Byron1

  1. 1School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
  2. 2Faculty of Nursing, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
  3. 3Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, IWK Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
  4. 4Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, Montreal, QC, Canada

Correspondence: Professor CC Johnston, School of Nursing, McGill University, 3506 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2A7, Canada. E-mail: celeste.johnston@mcgill.ca

Received 19 February 2008; Revised 16 June 2008; Accepted 13 July 2008; Published online 4 September 2008.

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Abstract

Objective:

 

To test if enhancing maternal skin-to-skin contact, or kangaroo mother care (KMC) by adding rocking, singing and sucking is more efficacious than simple KMC for procedural pain in preterm neonates.

Study Design:

 

Preterm neonates (n=90) between 32 0/7 and 36 0/7 weeks' gestational age participated in a single-blind randomized crossover design. The infant was held in KMC with the addition of rocking, singing and sucking or the infant was held in KMC without additional stimulation. The Premature Infant Pain Profile was the primary outcome with time to recover as the secondary outcome. A repeated-measures analysis of covariance was employed for analyses.

Result:

 

There were no significant differences in any of the 30 s time periods over the 2 min of blood sampling nor in time to return to baseline. Compared to historical controls of the same age in incubator, the pain scores were lower and comparable to other studies of KMC. There were site differences related to lower scores with the use of sucrose in one site and higher scores in younger, sicker infants in another site.

Conclusion:

 

The sensorial stimulations from skin-to-skin contact that include tactile, olfactory sensations from the mother are sufficient to decrease pain response in premature neonates. Other studies showing that rocking, sucking and music were efficacious were independent of skin-to-skin contact, which, when used alone has been shown to be effective as reported across studies.

Keywords:

pain, kangaroo mother care, preterm neonates, heel lance

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