Effectiveness of Pain Relief Methods Used in Neonates Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units of Ardabil Teaching Hospitals in ۲۰۲۴

Background: Preterm neonates admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) are often exposed to stress and painful interventions. Proper pain management is recommended to enhance growth, development, and health promotion in neonates. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of pain relief methods used in neonates admitted to NICUS of Ardabil teaching hospitals. Methods: A total of ۱۵۰ neonates hospitalized in the NICUS of Ardabil teaching-treatment centers were studied by convenience sampling. Neonatal pain scores caused by each painful procedure were calculated before and after applying pain relief methods using the Persian version of the standardized NPASS tool. The degree of pain relief provided by the methods was then evaluated and compared. Data were analyzed using SPSS version ۲۳. Findings: During tracheal suctioning and intubation procedures, midazolam showed significant pain score reduction. In procedures such as vital signs check, chest X-ray (CXR), CPAP, and heel stick, pain scores before and after swaddling were significantly different (p ۰.۰۵). For tape removal and nasopharyngeal suction, swaddling, breastfeeding, and pacifier use were effective. In venous blood sampling, differences in pain scores before and after swaddling and breastfeeding interventions were significant. For arterial blood sampling and blood glucose measurement, swaddling and sucrose interventions significantly reduced pain scores. During venous catheterization, swaddling, sucrose, breastfeeding, and pacifier interventions all showed significant pain relief. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of pharmacologic approaches for moderate to severe pain in neonates. The choice of pain relief method should be tailored to the type and intensity of the procedure. Targeted use of midazolam for invasive procedures, and use of swaddling, breastfeeding, pacifier, and sucrose individually or in combination for less invasive procedures, can effectively reduce pain in neonates admitted to NICUs. These findings emphasize the need for evidence-based comprehensive pain relief protocols in NICUs.

کلیدواژه ها:

Pain ، Infant ، Pain Relief ، Intensive Care units