NEONATAL PAIN RESPONSE TO HEEL STICK VS VENIPUNCTURE FOR ROUTINE BLOOD-SAMPLING

Neonatal pain response and adverse effects and maternal anxiety were a ssessed in 27 infants who were randomly allocated to venepuncture or h eel stick. Pain was assessed by nurses using the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) and a three point scale for the mothers. NIPS scores were higher in the heel stick group compared with the venepuncture group. Maternal anxiety was higher before the procedure while perception of a n infant's pain was lower in the venepuncture group compared with the heel stick group. Venepuncture is less painful than heel stick in newb orn infants undergoing routine blood sampling.