The Effect of Scents Applied During Heel Blood Collection on Newborn Crying Duration, Pain, and Physiological Parameters

The Effect of Scents Applied During Heel Blood Collection on Newborn Crying Duration, Pain, and Physiological Parameters; A Randomized Controlled Study.

One of the most common and painful procedures in newborns is taking a capillary blood sample from the heel. This basic procedure, widely used in early health assessments, particularly in newborn screening tests, can cause mild to moderate pain.While both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches are used in pain management in newborns, the primary goal is to minimize and prevent painful stimuli as much as possible. Non-pharmacological methods are preferred in newborn care because they have no side effects, are easy to apply, low-cost, and caregiver-friendly.

This study was designed as a prospective, three-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial. It focused on non-pharmacological methods (lavender oil, mandarin oil, control group/standard care).Mothers of newborns meeting the recruitment criteria were informed of the study before heel prick testing and provided verbal and written consent. The standard approach involves performing heel prick testing on all newborns in their mothers' arms.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Gestational age between 38-42 weeks,
• APGAR score of 7 or higher at 5 minutes,
• Neither mother nor baby should have used sedatives, tranquilizers, or anticonvulsants in the last 24 hours,
• Heel prick blood should be planned as part of the routine neonatal screening program,
• No blood should be taken from the heel prick for any other reason before the procedure,
• Parents should voluntarily participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Gestational age of 37 weeks or less,
• APGAR score of 6 or lower at 5 minutes,
• Having a diagnosed lung disease,
• Having a history of atopic dermatitis, hypersensitivity, or allergies,
• Parents should not wish to participate in the study.