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The following is a summary of “Effect of combined non-pharmacological interventions on venous blood sampling pain in preterm infants: a clinical trial study,” published in the April 2025 issue of BMC Pediatrics by Yadollahzadeh et al. 

Reducing procedural pain in hospitalized infants is crucial for their well-being. Non-pharmacological methods help prevent long-term physical and psychological effects. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to assess the effect of combined non-pharmacological interventions on venous blood sampling pain in preterm infants.  

They randomly assigned 88 preterm infants to 4 groups: sucrose (S), the combined group of sucrose and non-nutritive sucking (NS), the combined group of swaddle and sucrose (SS) and the combined group of sucrose, non-NS and swaddling (NSS). They used the premature infant pain profile scale (PIPP) and a demographic questionnaire for data collection. 

The results showed that the mean pain score difference between the S and NS groups was 3.54 (95% CI = 1.85, 5.24) and between the S and NSS groups was 4.68 (95% CI = 2.99, 6.38), both statistically significant (P < 0.001). The mean pain difference in all groups was significant in the time periods before-during and during-after blood sampling (P < 0.001), and this difference remained significant for NS and NSS compared to the S group (P < 0.001). 

Investigators found that combined non-pharmacological interventions of NSS were more effective in reducing venous blood sampling pain than using one or two interventions. They confirmed greater pain relief with NSS compared to other groups. 

Source: bmcpediatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12887-025-05626-4