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NCT Number: NCT06200662

Pain Relief in Premature Newborns Through Maternal Intervention During Venipuncture

Extremely premature newborn infants (ELNs) admitted to hospital are exposed to stressful and painful stimuli, and often to maternal separation, which can affect their long-term neurological development. Child- and family-centred developmental care (CFDC) in neonatology aims to adapt the hospital environment to the needs of the child, support the continued presence of the family and help to improve their future.

Specific assessment and appropriate analgesic treatment are therefore priorities for preserving the well-being and cerebral development of this population, which is particularly vulnerable to pain. Pain relief for certain procedures necessary for the care of newborn babies, such as venipuncture (PV), remains inadequate. Venipuncture is a common procedure in the first few weeks of life for very premature newborns. Its analgesic treatment is based on non-medicinal strategies largely carried out in the nurse's own role: non-nutritive suctioning combined with the administration of a sugar solution and wrapping. In line with the SDCEF philosophy, and reinforced by the "zero separation" concept, parental involvement in the treatment of their newborn's pain becomes natural and fundamental. A number of studies have shown the benefits of parents' presence and participation through specific isolated analgesic actions. Skin- to-skin contact (PAP) is one of these and has multiple benefits for the newborn. However, in practice, when a PV is necessary for a very premature baby, its use as a pain-relieving strategy is hampered by a number of obstacles. As NN are naturally oriented towards the maternal voice, using it is a new approach to analgesia. In an innovative study carried out in a single centre, direct maternal voice contact, in addition to the usual non- pharmacological analgesic strategies, reduced the NN's pain, without completely eliminating it during heel sampling (a skin incision known to be more painful than a PV). This analgesic strategy should therefore be combined with other non-pharmacological strategies, taking advantage of all maternal skills.

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Key information

Conditions

Age range

32 week–34 week

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Les Hôpitaux Universitaires

Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, 67091, France

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Claire ZORES

SUB_INVESTIGATOR

Elodie RABATEL

CONTACT

[email protected]

+33388127785

Pierre KUHN

SUB_INVESTIGATOR

About this study

  • Information visit (V0 - 1 day): parents are informed by the clinical research nurse (CRN);
  • Inclusion visit (V0): inclusion, collection of consent from the 2 holders of parental authority, collection of anamnestic data by the CRI;
  • Visit S and visit M (V0 to ≤ 7 d): random order, installation of the NN in a room dedicated to recordings, analgesic strategies (see below), performance at each visit of a PV (necessary for care) by the IRC, collection of behavioural data by video sequences centred on the NN's face.

Analgesic strategies during the S visit: standard and recommended non-pharmacological analgesic strategies used by the CRI: administration of sugar solution, support for non-nutritive sucking with a dummy and wrapping in a nappy.

Analgesic strategies at visit M: overall non-pharmacological analgesic strategies carried out by the mother: sucking on a sugar solution, supporting non-nutritive sucking with a dummy, contact, etc.

direct voice (from 5 minutes before to 5 min after PV), wrap in a nappy and manual, and offer to grasp the finger.

Analysis of behavioural data: NFCS scores obtained from analysis of video sequences by 10 s periods (basal, per and post stimulation) by 2 blind assessors on the type of analgesia used (carer or mother).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Very premature babies born before the gestational age (GA) of 32 weeks of amenorrhoea (SA) whose corrected age (CA) does not exceed 34 SA at the time of their participation.
  • NN requiring close biological monitoring by a PV.
  • Hospitalised in the NN medicine and intensive care unit at Strasbourg hospital.
  • Consent obtained from both holders of parental authority.
  • Person covered by a social health insurance scheme.

Exclusion criteria

  • Any known malformation affecting one or more organs.
  • Cerebral lesions discovered o n cerebral ultrasound (intraventricular haemorrhage grade > 2, periventricular leukomalacia).
  • Unstable clinical state as judged by the investigator and the medical team.
  • Transfer to another hospital centre expected before the end of the study period.
  • Mother: Minor. Deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision. Under legal protection. Severe psychological pathology. Drug addiction. Difficulty understanding and/or reading the language.

French.

Treatment and study plan

Analgesic strategies during the S visit:

Other

Analgesic strategies during the S visit: standard and recommended non-pharmacological analgesic strategies used by the CRI: administration of sugar solution, support for non-nutritive sucking with a dummy and wrapping in a nappy.

Analgesic strategies at visit M

Other

Analgesic strategies at visit M: overall non-pharmacological analgesic strategies carried out by the mother: sucking on a sugar solution, supporting non-nutritive sucking with a dummy, contact, etc.

Primary outcomes

  1. NFCS (Neonatal Facial Coding System)

    Time frame: 7 days

    the NFCS pain score assessed during a PV in two conditions:

    • maternal absence: "carer" analgesia (visit S) ;
    • maternal involvement: "mum" pain (M visit). This is a validated 4-item scale describing facial mimics in NN. The analysis was based on video sequences and blinded to the type of analgesia used. The possible score is from 0 to 4 and will be binarised to a value of "1"; the primary endpoint (PEC) is therefore the proportion of neonates with a score of "1". greater than or equal to 1.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Elodie RABATEL, Nurse

CONTACT

[email protected]

+33 3 88 12 77 85

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Strasbourg, France

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Pain Relief in Premature Newborns Through Maternal Intervention During Venipuncture: Effectiveness, Experiences of Parents and Carers

Acronym: PREMAMANDOL

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
Jan 11, 2024
Registry last updated
Jun 9, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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