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Blinded randomized crossover trial: Skin-to-skin care vs. sucrose for preterm neonatal pain

Journal of Perinatology volume 40, pages 896–901 (2020)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To compare skin-to-skin care (SSC) and oral sucrose for preterm neonatal pain control.

Methods

Preterm neonates (28–36 weeks gestation) requiring heel-stick were eligible. In group-A, SSC was given 15-min before first heel-stick, and sucrose was given 2-min before second heel-stick. In group-B, the sequence was reversed. Blinded premature infant pain profile (PIPP) score assessment was done at 0, 1, and 5-min of heel-stick by two assessors.

Results

A hundred neonates were enrolled. The inter-rater agreement for the PIPP score was good. The behavior state component was significantly lower in the sucrose group at all assessment points. The mean (SD) difference between 1-min and 0 min was similar [SSC 3.58(3.16) vs. sucrose 4.09(3.82), p = 0.24] between groups. The PIPP score attained baseline values at 5-min in both groups.

Conclusion

Albeit sucrose indicated instantaneous action, SSC and sucrose have comparable clinical efficacy for preterm neonatal pain control. Multisensory stimulation with SSC may result in a higher behavioral state component of the PIPP score.

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Fig. 1: Participant flow diagram.
Fig. 2: Comparison of PIPP scores between SSC and sucrose groups at different time points.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pramukhswami Medical College, Anand, Gujarat, India

    Somashekhar Nimbalkar, Vivek V. Shukla, Vishwa Chauhan, Ajay Phatak, Dipen Patel, Apurva Chapla & Archana Nimbalkar

  2. University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Vivek V. Shukla

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  1. Somashekhar Nimbalkar
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  3. Vishwa Chauhan
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  4. Ajay Phatak
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  5. Dipen Patel
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  6. Apurva Chapla
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  7. Archana Nimbalkar
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Contributions

SN conceptualized and designed the study, coordinated and supervised the analysis, and substantially reviewed and revised the manuscript. VVS conceptualized and designed the study, coordinated data collection, drafted the initial manuscript and reviewed and revised the manuscript. VC conceptualized and designed the study, undertook data collection, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. AP designed the study, conducted the analysis and reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content. DP contributed to the data collection, reviewed and revised the manuscript. AC designed the study, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. AN designed the study, coordinated and supervised data collection, and reviewed the manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

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Correspondence to Vivek V. Shukla.

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Nimbalkar, S., Shukla, V., Chauhan, V. et al. Blinded randomized crossover trial: Skin-to-skin care vs. sucrose for preterm neonatal pain. J Perinatol 40, 896–901 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-0638-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-0638-9

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