Effect of Foot Massage on Pain Responses to Heel Stick in Preterm Infants
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- Category: Vol. 84, September 2016
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Effect of Foot Massage on Pain Responses to Heel Stick in Preterm Infants, EBTSAM M. IBRAHIM, SHADIA R. EL-GIUNDY, HANAN M. RASHAD and MOHAMED H. MEBED
Abstract
Background: Foot massage could inhibit the transmission of pain by 'closing the gate' or by activating the endogenous opioid pathway to decrease nociceptive transmission of pain associated with heel stick.
Aim of the Study: To evaluate effect of foot massage on pain responses to heel stick in preterm infants.
Material and Method: A quasi-experimental (time-series) design was utilized on a convenient sample of sixty preterm infants less than thirty seven weeks of gestation at two NICUs of Beni-Suif University Hospital and Beni-Suif Health Insur-ance Hospital in Beni-Suif City. A neonatal assessment sheet about characteristics of both neonates and heel stick sampling, and Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) scale were used to collect data from October 2014 to May 2015. After written consent from parents, infants received no massage on the first sampling, and a 15-minuts. Massage of the foot prior to heel stick on the next sampling (1-3 days) later. One of the re-searchers applied the foot massage, measured PIPP, heart rate, and oxygen saturation 5min prior to heel stick, during and after heel stick immediately.
Results: The current study revealed that preterm infants birth weight ranged from (900-2800gm), massage increased heart rate significantly before heel stick in study group while it decreased significantly after heel stick. Preterm infants who received foot massage prior to heel stick had statistically significant stabled behavioral state than who did not receive. Mean PIPP score had lowered significantly for preterm infants who received foot massage during and after heel stick than who did not received. Duration of sampling was decreased significantly for study than control group.
Conclusion: Foot massage improved physiological and behavioral stability and lowered the severity of pain responses to heel stick in preterm infants, as well as decreasing the sampling duration.
Recommendations: Foot massage must be involved in the routine care for preterm infants prior heel stick.