Soothing Pain-Elicited Distress in Chinese Neonates

Abstract

Objective. To test the effect of nonnutritive sucking (NNS), music therapy (MT), and combined NNS and MT (NNS + MT), versus no intervention, on heart rate, transcutaneous oxygen (TcPao2) levels, and pain behavior of neonates in intensive care units having blood taken by a heel-stick procedure. Methodology. A within-subjects, counter-balancing, repeated-measures design conducted in a government-funded hospital in Hong Kong, comparing TcPao2 levels, heart rate, and pain behavior outcomes in 27 neonates. Results. Repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance revealed statistically significant differences in outcomes across all interventions (Wilk's λ = .142; F[3,27] = 31.82; η2 = .47). One-way analysis of variance revealed that the 3 comfort interventions significantly reduced neonates' heart rate (Wilk's λ = .647; F[2,27] = 18.93; η2 = .35), improved their TcPao2 levels (Wilk's λ = .481;F [2,27] = 37.42; η2 = .51), and reduced their pain behavior (Wilk's λ = .312; F [2,27] = 76.42; η2 = .68). Posthoc scheffe tests revealed that NNS + MT had the strongest effect on neonates' TcPao2 levels and pain behavior; MT alone had the strongest effect on neonates' heart rate. Conclusions. Health professionals using NNS + MT when doing heel-sticks can improve the TcPao2 levels of neonates and reduce their pain. Using MT alone can improve the heart rate of neonates.