Vibration and During Heel Lance Procedures in Newborns

Methods: This randomized, controlled, experimental study. The study sample consisted of 56 newborns determined using power analysis (vibration: 28, control:28). Newborns who underwent a heel lance procedure at the specified center, whose parents agreed to participate in the study and who had reached gestational age 38 and older were enrolled in the study. In the vibration group, a vibrating device was used for approximately 30 seconds before the heel lance procedure and continued throughout the procedure. No interventions were made on the newborns in the control group. Two nurses were employed for the heel lance procedure both for the experimental and control groups. One nurse performed the heel lance procedure for all newborns and the other nurse recorded the procedure. Pain in newborns was evaluated by the nurse who performed the heel lance procedure before the procedure, and 15-20 seconds and five minutes after the procedure, as well as by two specialists through observation of the video footage of the procedures using the NIPS. The heel lance procedure was performed by the same nurse both in the vibration and control groups.

Inclusion criteria

• Gestational age 38 and older

Exclusion criteria

• Disrupted skin integrity in the device placement site, nerve damage or -deformity of the limb from which the blood would be collected,
• Genetic and congenital anomalies
• Congenital metabolic disorders,
• those who had undergone cardiopulmonary resuscitation,
• Stayed in the neonatal intensive care unit for any reason,
• Heel blood could not be collected at the first attempt,
• Osteogenesis imperfecta
• Had been given an analgesic within the preceding 6 hours