Glucose and reflexology for pain relief during arterial puncture in neonates: a protocol
Preliminary EvidenceIn Plain Language: reflexology, explained
To present a study protocol to compare glucose and reflexology in pain relief in neonate intensive care during arterial punctures. A randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial protocol will be carried out at a teaching hospital maternity, with30 newborns admitted to neonate intensive care who are to undergo blood collection by arterial puncture. They will be randomly assigned to a control group (25% glucose) or an intervention group (foot reflexology). The primary outcome will be neonate pain scores during and after arterial puncture. Secondary outcomes will be crying time and variation in neonates' vital signs during and after the arterial puncture procedure. Registration number RBR-639bff. The results of this trial will provide new insights into the most appropriate intervention for the relief of neonate pain during painful procedures.
Key Findings: what this pilot study found
- ✓This study will compare glucose administration and foot reflexology as two distinct interventions for pain relief during arterial punctures in neonates.
- ✓The primary outcome measured will be neonatal pain scores assessed during and after the arterial puncture procedure.
- ✓Secondary outcomes will include crying time and changes in vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation) occurring during and after the arterial puncture.
What This Means for You
This is only a research plan with no results yet, so there's no evidence yet that reflexology helps newborn pain during medical procedures.
What This Means for Practitioners
This protocol establishes a foundation for future evidence on reflexology's effectiveness in neonatal pain management, but practitioners should await the actual trial results before making clinical claims.
Study Design: how this pilot study was run
Common questions about this study
What does this study mean in practice?
This is only a research plan with no results yet, so there's no evidence yet that reflexology helps newborn pain during medical procedures.
What did this study find?
This study will compare glucose administration and foot reflexology as two distinct interventions for pain relief during arterial punctures in neonates. The primary outcome measured will be neonatal pain scores assessed during and after the arterial puncture procedure. Secondary outcomes will include crying time and changes in vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation) occurring during and after the arterial puncture.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a pilot study and we rate its evidence preliminary. It covers 30 participants. It was published in Revista gaucha de enfermagem. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.
Looking for a reflexologist?
Find practitioners who can help with the conditions studied in this research.
Find a Reflexologist