The Effect of Facilitated Tucking Positions

This study employed a randomized experimental parallel design to evaluate the impact of supine, lateral, and prone positions on the pain, comfort, peak heart rate, and oxygen saturation of newborns during heel stick sampling. The study was conducted with 120 newborns between 10 October and 10 December 2023 at the Infant Monitoring Unit of Karaman Training and Research Hospital. Data were collected using the "Newborn Introduction Form, the Physiological Measurement Form, the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale, and the Newborn Comfort Behavior Scale." Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, ANOVA, the chi-square test, Cohen Kappa Analysis, and Spearman Correlation analysis for repeated measures. The study found that newborns in the prone position exhibited higher peak heart rates and lower oxygen saturation levels during and after heel pricks compared to other positions (p<0.05). The lateral, supine, and prone positions effectively reduced pain and distress and increased comfort. The lateral fetal position was particularly effective in significantly reducing pain and distress compared to the prone position (p<0.05). However, the mean comfort score was highest in the prone position and lowest in the lateral position (p<0.05). In conclusion, the study showed that the lateral fetal position had significant effects on peak heart rate, oxygen saturation, pain, distress, and comfort values.

Inclusion criteria

• The newborn must be at term (born at 38 weeks or later)
• The newborn must be in the neonatal period (0-28 day)
• Their vital signs must be stable
• They must have spontaneous breathing
• The heel prick blood sample must be taken by the same nurse
• The lancet must be inserted only once during the heel prick blood sample collection
• The newborn must have been fed at least 30 minutes prior
• The families must consent to participate in the study and sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

• Having a congenital anomaly
• Having received pain medication in the last 24 hours
• Having received sedatives in the last 24 hours,
• Having received oxygen therapy
• Having a congenital anomaly
• Having a history of seizures
• Having a health problem that prevents positioning.