PREVENTION OF PROCEDURAL PAIN IN TERM AND PRE-TERM NEWBORN - APPLICABILITY OF COMFORT SCALE

Authors

  • Strahinja Konstantinović Pediatric surgery and orthopedics Clinic, University Clinical Centre Nis, Nis, Serbia
  • Ivona Đorđević
  • Ivana Budić Clinic for Anestesiology and Intensive Therapy, UKC Niš, Serbia
  • Živojin Spasić Pediatric surgery and orthopedics Clinic, University Clinical Centre Nis, Nis, Serbia

Keywords:

newborn, COMFORT scale, pain

Abstract

Introduction: In order to effectively relieve pain and reduce its negative effects in the neonatal period, it is important to recognize the severity of painful stimuli, which is difficult because there is no verbal communication with the patient, so reliable pain assessment tools are used instead.

Aim of the study: The aim of our study was to examine the applicability of the observational-physiological COMFORT scale in the treatment of procedural pain.

Material and methods: We examined a total of 250 patients, 120 boys and 130 girls, which include both preterm and term infants. Patients were divided according to gestational age into 4 age categories (younger than 28 GN, 28-32 GN, 32-36 GN, 36-40 GN), and all patients were divided into 2 groups: first with  an analgesic before the procedure and second  with no analgesic.

Results: Comparing the average values of the COMFORT scale between the two groups, in all types of procedural pain, there was a statistically significant difference in value, with a degree of statistical significance p <0.001, in venipuncture, intravenous cannulation, intramuscular injection, lumbar puncture, NG probe insertion, placement of urinary catheter, wound dressing, umbilical catheterization, rectal irrigation. Observing the gestational age of newborns and comparing the value of the scale, there was a statistically significant difference in value between the two compared groups in all age categories.

Conclusion: Based on the results of our work, we have shown that the COMFORT scale is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing stress and pain in newborns. Based on the results, intravenous paracetamol has been shown to be very useful in pain relief.

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Published

03/29/2022

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Prev Ped 2022: 8(1-2)

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Original Articles