The exposure of premature newborns with respiratory failure to pain and touch on the first day of hospitalization in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – pilot study

Background
Newborns born prematurely and hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NI CU) are exposed to stressors, such as touch and pain.

Objectives
The evaluation of exposure of premature babies with respiratory failure to pain and touch generated on the first day of hospitalization at the NI CU.

Material and methods
The study group consisted of 11 premature newborns born between 29 0/7 and 35 6/7 weeks of gestation, being on the 1st or 2nd day of life. The observation was carried out on the first day of hospitalization. The research method was based on the standardized observation of newborns for exposure to touch and pain. The NIPS and CRIES scales were used for pain assessment.

Results
The study group was exposed to a total of 458 nursing and therapeutic procedures (Me 41; Q1–Q3: 39–44). The nursing team performed 376 touch-related actions on these patients (Me 35; Q1–Q3: 31–36) and 82 pain-inducing actions (Me 6; Q1–Q3: 4–11). The average level of pain intensity during individual nursing and therapeutic procedures was Me 3; Q1–Q3: 2–4.5, according to the NIPS scale, and Me 3; Q1–Q3: 2.5–4.4, according to the CRIES scale. The most painful procedures were peripheral blood cannulation and venous blood sampling for laboratory testing

Conclusions
The diagnostic, therapeutic and nursing activities performed by the NI CU nursing team are related to excessive touch and induction of pain. Medical teams should regularly assess pain, treat it effectively and strive to reduce stressful touch-related actions.