Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2025
Electrophysiological Measurement of Noxious-evoked Brain Activity in Neonates Using a Flat-tip Probe Coupled to Electroencephalography
Published on: November 29, 2017
Effect of combining oral glucose solutions with supportive positions on pain during heel puncture blood sampling in
Guzide Ugucu1, Rana Yigit2, Yalcin Celik3
1Mersin University Faculty of Nursing, Department of Pediatric Nursing, Çiftlikköy Campus, Yenişehir, Mersin 33343, Turkey.
Insights
Oral glucose solutions combined with supportive positions effectively reduce pain and crying time in premature infants undergoing heel punctures. This combination is recommended for pain management when parents are absent.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Pain management
- Pediatric nursing
Background:
- Heel puncture procedures are common in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
- Pain experienced by premature infants during these procedures can have negative physiological and developmental consequences.
- Effective, non-pharmacological pain management strategies are crucial for this vulnerable population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of oral glucose solutions at various concentrations, combined with supportive positions, on pain scores during heel punctures in premature infants.
- To compare the efficacy of different intervention combinations in mitigating procedural pain.
Main Methods:
- A quadruple-blinded experimental study involving 128 premature infants (33-36 weeks gestational age) in a Level II and IVa NICU.
- Four interventions combining supportive positions and oral glucose solutions were administered during heel punctures.
- Pain was assessed using the Neonatal Pain, Agitation and Sedation Scale (N-PASS) and physiological variables were monitored.
- Data analysis included two-way repeated measures ANOVA and post-hoc Bonferroni tests.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in baseline characteristics were observed between the groups.
- Pain scores, physiological variables, and total crying times significantly differed across intervention groups and over time.
- A significant interaction effect between intervention groups and time was noted, indicating varying responses to treatments.
Conclusions:
- Combining oral glucose solutions with supportive positions significantly reduces pain scores and crying time compared to supportive positions alone.
- An oral 20% glucose solution with supportive positions is recommended for managing pain during unplanned heel punctures, especially when parental presence is not possible.
Purpose:
The trial aimed to assess the impact on pain scores of the administration of oral glucose solutions at different concentrations and in combination with supportive positions during heel puncture procedures.
Design & Methods:
This trial was structured as a quadruple-blinded experimental study conducted at a single center - a Level II and IVa NICU between June 2022-2023. Included in the study were 128 premature infants born with a gestational age of between 33 and 36 weeks and a postnatal age of <7 days. For the heel puncture procedures, four distinct interventions were employed, each involving supportive positions and oral solutions. All interventions were recorded on video for analysis, and data were collected using the "Infant Information and Observation Form" and "Neonatal Pain, Agitation and Sedation Scale (N-PASS)". The N-PASS was rated by two independent nurses. The data were analyzed with the two-way repeated measures ANOVA and post-hoc Bonferroni tests.
Results:
The descriptive and clinical characteristics were similar in all groups (p > 0.05). The pain scores, physiological variables and total crying times of the premature infants differed significantly depending on the interventional groups and times, and the interaction between the groups and times (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Combining glucose solutions with supportive positions led to a reduction in pain scores, a decrease in total crying time when compared to the use of supportive positions alone.
Practice Implications:
Combining an oral 20% glucose solution with supportive positions can be recommended to reduce pain during unplanned heel puncture procedures in the absence of a parent in the unit.
