The Effect of Kangaroo Care on Pain and Physiological Parameters in Preterm Infants on Heel-stick Procedure: A Randomized Controlled, Cross-over Study

Due to the higher risk of pain in preterm infants, pain management is important for such infants. The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of kangaroo care on the severity of pain and physiological parameters after heel-stick in preterm infants. This was a prospective and randomized controlled cross-over study. Twenty preterm infants allocated into an intervention (30 minutes of kangaroo care before and throughout heel-stick) and a control condition (standard incubator care during heel-stick). The severity of pain and the physiological parameters (heart rate and oxygen saturation) were collected after the heel-stick procedure. The pain mean scores in the intervention and control conditions were respectively 4.9 (SD=2.91) and 11.00 (SD=4.21) and a significant difference was found between the two conditions regarding the pain score 30 seconds after the heel-stick [t=5.33, p<0.001]. Moreover, a significant difference between the two conditions concerning the infants'' heart rate (F=3.73, p<0.0001) and oxygen saturation (F=1.84, p<0.0001) was demonstrated during the three study periods. In order to relieve the preterm infants'' pain and prevent quick acceleration and deceleration of heart rate and oxygen saturation in the intervention condition, the intervention is recommended to be done in a nursery.