Effect of non-nutritive sucking on pain response among preterm infants / Hoda Ahmed Mahmoud Omar ; Supervised Soheir Abdelhamid Dabash , Shadia R. Elguindy , Soheir A. Rabou Mohamed

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Nursing - Department of Pediatric Nursing

Hospitalized preterm infants undergo multiple, cyclic procedures such as venipunctures throughout their treatment course that causing distress during hospitalization. Sucking plays a key role in the life of the infant. Non-nutritive sucking (NNS) is a simple intervention that may assist the preterm infant in achieving physiologic homeostasis, which includes heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation. NNS is a method for providing comfort and managing pain in preterm infants. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of NNS on pain response among preterm infants at the neonatal intensive care units in Cairo uUniversity Hospitals. One group pre-post test quasi experimental design was utilized. A convenient sample of 43 preterm infants was participated for this study. Data were collected by using a structured interview sheet and a tool of PIPP aAdopted from stevens, johnston, Petrysshen and Taddio (1996) and modified by the researcher. The results of this study revealed highly statistically significant differences regarding the total PIPP score during and after procedure between the group with NNS and group without NNS, highly statistical significant difference regarding respiratory rate during procedure, systolic blood pressure after procedure and no statistically significant differences regarding diastolic blood pressure were detected. The current study concluded that NNS had a positive effect on the pain response which enhances adequate pain control when used during blood sampling procedure. The study recommended applying the NNS as one of the non pharmacological pain relief for preterm infants in NICU

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