Effect of Swaddling on Pain and Physiological Parameters in Neonates during Heel Lance

Neonates in the NICU experience multiple, painful, tissue-damaging procedures daily. Pain among neonates is often underestimated and untreated, producing untoward consequences. Keeping all this in view a study to determine the effect of pain and physiological parameters among neonates during heel lance with and without swaddling was carried out in Chandigarh child care center, Kotkapura, Punjab. Objectives of the study were to assess and compare pain and physiological parameters among neonates during heel lance with and without swaddling. The study was also intended to determine the relationship between pain and physiological parameters and to find the association of levels of pain with sample characteristics of the neonates with swaddling. The study was conducted in the month of December 2012 to January 2013 on 30 neonates selected through purposive sampling technique. The data was collected using Modified neonatal facial coding scale and physiological parameters record sheet. There was significant difference found in pain and heart rate of the neonates with and without swaddling. Moderate positive correlation was found between pain and heart rate during heel lance where as no significant relationship with oxygen saturation. No association of pain was found with the sample characteristics of the neonates at the time of heel lance.