Using Sucrose and Pacifiers to Reduce Pain in Infants During Blood Tests
Author Information
Author(s): Curtis Sarah J, Jou Hsing, Ali Samina, Vandermeer Ben, Klassen Terry
Primary Institution: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Hypothesis
Does sucrose or pacifier use reduce pain during venipuncture in infants?
Conclusion
Pacifiers are effective in reducing crying time during venipuncture in infants aged 0–3 months, while sucrose alone requires further investigation.
Supporting Evidence
- Pacifier use significantly reduced crying time during venipuncture.
- Sucrose alone did not significantly reduce pain scores.
- Younger infants showed greater pain relief with sucrose and pacifier.
- The study included 84 infants who were randomized into four groups.
Takeaway
Using a pacifier can help babies feel less pain during blood tests, and it's easy to use. Sucrose might help too, but we need to study it more.
Methodology
This was a double and single blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial conducted in a pediatric emergency department with infants aged 0-6 months.
Potential Biases
Observer bias was present as the research nurse was not blinded to pacifier use.
Limitations
The study had a convenience sample and imbalances in baseline characteristics, particularly age.
Participant Demographics
Infants aged 0-6 months requiring venipuncture, with a median age of 48 days.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < 0.0029
Confidence Interval
(1.58, 5.84)
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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