The effects of comfort care on the pain response in preterm infants undergoing screening for retinopathy of prematurity.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to determine if pain and distress during the retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening examination could be ameliorated by providing comfort care.


METHODS
This study was a prospective, randomized, controlled trial of 30 stable preterm infants who underwent initial ROP screening examinations. Fourteen study infants were swaddled, held, and given 24% sucrose solution during the examination. Sixteen controls were examined while lying in their cribs. Vital signs (i.e., pulse rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation), crying time, and time for the vital signs to return to baseline values were recorded at different times during the examination.


RESULTS
The vital signs did not vary significantly between the two groups. The participants in the control group had a trend of longer crying time, but this trend did not reach a level of statistical significance. In addition, The time required for the vital signs to return to their baseline values did not vary significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
ROP screening is very distressful for preterm infants. The routine use of comfort care to reduce pain during the examination could not be supported by this study.
Rush
Ryan
R
Department of Pediatrics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Northwest Texas Healthcare Systems, Amarillo, Texas 79106, USA.
Rush
Sloan
S
Ighani
Farshid
F
Anderson
Brady
B
Irwin
Mary
M
Naqvi
Mubariz
M
D003448:Crying; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010146:Pain / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005791:Patient Care / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012890:Sleep; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*
D010100:Oxygen