Effects of the Interventions Using Multiple Sensory Integrations on Preterm Infants' Stress-Related Outcomes

Effects of the Interventions Using Multiple Sensory Integrations on Relieving Pain and Distress in Preterm Infants During Peripheral Venous Puncture Procedures

Frequent pain and distress may affect infants' brain and neural development, and highlight the need for relieve pain interventions. Peripheral venous puncture procedures are an important source of preterm infants' pain and distress. Brain development is mainly created by infant sensory experience. It becomes important, therefore, to relieve preterm infants' pain and distress using multiple sensory integrations during peripheral venous puncture procedures.The proposed 2-year study has specific aim: to compare the effects of different combination of sensory integrations on preterm infants' pain and distress before, during, and after peripheral venous puncture procedures.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Gestational age (GA) 28-37 weeks
• Post-menstrual age (PMA) 29-38 weeks
• Postnatal age 3-28 days
• Sable condition (NTISSscore ≦ 22)
• Apgar scores≧7 at 5 minutes after birth

Exclusion Criteria:

• Neurologic impairment
• Congenital anomalies
• Surgery
• Severe growth restriction at birth
• Severe medical conditions requiring treatments