Effect of using crochet octopus in reducing the pain: a randomized controlled study

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Pain management
• Developmental pediatrics

Background:

• Procedural pain in neonates can lead to adverse physiological and behavioral outcomes.
• Non-pharmacological interventions are sought to mitigate pain and distress during medical procedures.
• The tactile stimulation provided by comforting objects may influence pain perception.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a crochet octopus as an intervention to reduce acute procedural pain in neonates.
• To assess the impact of the crochet octopus on physiological measurements during painful procedures.
• To determine if tactile stimulation with a crochet octopus can improve neonatal outcomes during heel lance procedures.

Main Methods:

• A parallel-design randomized controlled study was conducted with 100 term neonates.
• The experimental group received a crochet octopus 10 minutes before, during, and up to 10 minutes after heel lance.
• The control group received no intervention. Neonatal SpO2, crying duration, and pain scores were measured.

Main Results:

• Neonates in the experimental group exhibited higher SpO2 levels.
• The duration of crying was significantly shorter in the crochet octopus group.
• Neonates receiving the crochet octopus reported lower pain scores compared to the control group.

Conclusions:

• The crochet octopus intervention positively influenced neonatal physiological measurements.
• Tactile stimulation with a crochet octopus effectively reduced procedural pain in neonates.
• This intervention presents a promising non-pharmacological method for managing neonatal procedural pain.