Analgesia in newborns: a case-control study of the efficacy of nutritive and non-nutritive sucking stimuli.

PURPOSE

To verify the nutritive and non-nutritive stimuli efficacy in the newborn's response to pain during venipuncture.

METHODS

The main sample was composed of 64 newborns that were randomly divided into three groups. The first group (n=20) received nutritive sucking stimulus that was performed through maternal breastfeeding. The second group (n=21) received non-nutritive sucking stimulus that was performed through the introduction of the researcher little finger in the newborn's oral cavity. The third group or control group (n=23) did not receive any analgesia stimulus. The newborns were evaluated using the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale, and the responses to painful stimuli were compared.

RESULTS

The nutritive as well as non-nutritive suction methods provided a comforting effect, resulting in lower pain response scores (p<0.05). There was no difference between the analgesia provided by both methods (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

The nutritive and the non-nutritive sucking stimuli proved to be efficacious tools in relieving pain among newborns.