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The Effect of Grasp Reflex Stimulation on Pain During Vaccine Administration
Elif Simay Koç1, Türkan Kadiroğlu
1Author Affiliations: Department of Medical Services and Techniques, Kilis 7 Aralık University, Kilis, Turkey (Ms Koç); and Department of Pediatric Nursing, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey (Dr Kadiroğlu).
Insights
Grasp reflex stimulation significantly reduced pain and crying time in preterm infants during hepatitis B vaccination. This simple intervention offers a valuable, evidence-based approach to infant pain management during invasive procedures.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Pediatric pain management
- Evidence-based nursing interventions
Background:
- Vaccination is an invasive procedure causing significant pain in preterm infants.
- Effective pain management strategies are crucial for preterm neonates undergoing medical procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of grasp reflex stimulation on pain and crying duration during hepatitis B vaccine administration in preterm infants.
- To assess the feasibility of grasp reflex stimulation as a nursing intervention for pain reduction.
Main Methods:
- A parallel randomized controlled trial involving preterm infants in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
- Comparison of routine vaccination (control group) versus routine vaccination with grasp reflex stimulation (experimental group).
- Pain assessment using the Premature Infant Pain Profile Scale-Revised (PIPP-R) and measurement of crying time.
Main Results:
- The experimental group showed significantly lower PIPP-R scores during and after the procedure compared to the control group (P ≤ .001).
- Mean crying duration was significantly shorter in the experimental group receiving grasp reflex stimulation (P ≤ .001).
- Grasp reflex stimulation demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in pain and crying time.
Conclusions:
- Grasp reflex stimulation effectively decreases pain and crying time in preterm infants during hepatitis B vaccination.
- This intervention can be integrated into nursing practice for pain management during infant procedures.
- Grasp reflex stimulation is a feasible, evidence-based intervention for reducing procedural pain in infants.
Background:
The administration of vaccination, being an invasive procedure, can induce considerable pain in preterm infants.
Objective:
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of grasp reflex stimulation on pain and crying time during hepatitis B vaccine administration in infants.
Methods:
This parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted between November 1, 2022, and April 1, 2023, at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a public hospital in Turkey. The study included preterm infants whose parents provided both verbal and written consent. The control group ( n = 31) underwent a routine vaccination procedure, while the experimental group ( n = 28) underwent grasp reflex stimulation in addition to the routine vaccination procedure. Data were collected through the infant information form, stopwatch, and Premature Infant Pain Profile Scale-Revised (PIPP-R) form.
Results:
The mean PIPP-R score during the procedure was 11.67 ± 2.05 in the experimental group and 15.51 ± 1.36 in the control group ( P ≤ .001). After the procedure, the mean PIPP-R score was 10.89 ± 2.06 in the experimental group and 14.67 ± 1.55 in the control group ( P ≤ .001). The mean duration of crying was 19.57 ± 6.17 in the experimental group and 27.12 ± 6.19 in the control group ( P ≤ .001). The mean PIPP-R and crying time of the control group were higher.
Conclusion:
Grasp reflex stimulation applied to preterm infants during vaccine administration decreased pain and crying time during and after the procedure. Grasp reflex stimulation can be applied as a care approach for procedures that may cause pain in infants and may help calm infants as part of pain management in nursing.
Implications For Practice And Research:
The results of this study provide new information to the literature regarding the impact of grasp reflex stimulation on pain and the duration of crying induced by the hepatitis B vaccine in preterm infants. To our knowledge, this is the first study to confirm the effectiveness and feasibility of grasping reflex stimulation in hepatitis B vaccine administration in preterm infants. This study may contribute to future evidence-based studies. Grasping reflex stimulation can be tried as a parent-provided intervention in younger or older infants or in those who are critically ill.
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