The Effect of Maternal Voice on Venipuncture Induced Pain in Neonates: A Randomized Study

Background: Venipuncture is a common procedure in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and causes significant pain for neonates. Aim: To evaluate the effect of maternal voice on pain caused by venipuncture (including peripheral venipuncture and femoral venipuncture) in neonates hospitalized in the NICU. Design: Experimental, randomized controlled study. Setting: The study was conducted in the NICU of two hospitals in China from November 2017 to January 2019. Methods: One hundred and sixteen neonates were randomly assigned to the maternal voice or routine care groups. The maternal voice group received recorded maternal voice intervention before, during, and after venipuncture. Three phases of procedures were videotaped. Neonatal Infant Acute Pain Assessment Scale (NIAPAS) was assessed by the same evaluator at different phases. Results: The study showed that NIAPAS scores, behavioral indicator scores, and physiological indicator scores in the maternal voice group were significantly lower compared with those in the routine care group. Conclusion: Recorded maternal voice can improve pain caused by venipuncture in neonates. These are simple, rapid, and cost-effective methods that nurses can implement during venipuncture in neonates. (C) 2021 American Society for Pain Management Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.