Effectiveness of Gentle Touch Technique on Pain Level During Painful Procedures in Preterm Infants

Effectiveness of Gentle Touch Technique on Pain Level and Respiratory Parameters During Painful Procedures in Preterm Infants

Preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units frequently undergo painful procedures that may affect their physiological stability, including pain level and respiratory parameters. Non-pharmacological interventions such as gentle touch technique are considered safe and effective methods for reducing pain in premature infants.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of gentle touch technique on pain level and respiratory parameters during painful procedures in preterm infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units in Karbala teaching hospitals. The study will compare infants receiving gentle touch intervention with those receiving routine care to determine its effect on reducing pain and improving respiratory stability.

Painful procedures are common among preterm infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units. These procedures may lead to physiological instability and increased stress responses. Non-pharmacological methods such as gentle touch technique have been suggested as effective and safe interventions to reduce pain and improve physiological outcomes.

This experimental study will be conducted among preterm infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units in Karbala teaching hospitals. A sample of premature infants will be selected using convenience sampling. The infants will be randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups using a simple random sampling method (lottery method) to minimize selection bias. One group will receive the gentle touch technique during painful procedures while the other group will receive routine care.

Pain level will be assessed using an appropriate neonatal pain assessment tool, and respiratory parameters such as respiratory rate and oxygen saturation will be measured. The study aims to determine whether gentle touch technique can significantly reduce pain and stabilize respiratory parameters among premature infants during painful procedures.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Preterm infants with a gestational age range from 28 to 36 weeks.
• Preterm infants admitted to the neonatal units of the selected teaching hospitals.
• Preterm infants who were clinically stable at the time of data collection.
• Preterm infants undergoing routine painful procedures as part of standard neonatal care.
• Preterm infants who did not receive analgesic or sedative medications prior to the procedure.
• Preterm infants whose parents or legal guardians agreed to participate in the study and provided informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Preterm infants with a gestational age of less than 28 weeks or more than 36 weeks.
• Preterm infants with congenital anomalies or genetic disorders.
• Preterm infants diagnosed with neurological impairment or central nervous system disorders.
• Preterm infants who were clinically unstable or required intensive medical interventions at the time of data collection.
• Preterm infants receiving analgesic or sedative medications prior to the painful procedures.
• Preterm infants with severe respiratory distress or requiring mechanical ventilation.
• Preterm infants who had undergone any painful procedure within 30 minutes prior to the study procedure.