Effect of oral glucose administration on pain in neonates undergoing peripheral blood collection

Background Peripheral blood sampling with heel sticks in neonates could represent minor invasive procedure which generates pain. The oral glucose administration can reduce the pain in neonates during this procedure. Objective To compare the pain sense after oral glucose administration or placebo during peripheral blood sampling with heel sticks in neonates. Methods A double blind randomized clinical trial study was conducted from January to March 2004 in three teaching hospitals in Medan. The population of this study was divided into two groups (glucose and placebo) and each group consisted of 32 neonates. The intervention group got 1 ml of 40% glucose and the placebo group got 1 ml of sterile water. Blood sample was taken with sterile hemolet with heel sticks from healthy aterm neonates. The pain was measured using NIPS score and measured in first 30 seconds after heel sticking. The heart and respiratory rate measurement was done before and during the intervention and we also counted crying time. Data were analyzed with student t–test. Results The significant mean difference of NIPS score in glucose group was 2.22 (SD 0.83) vs 4.72 (SD 0.96) in placebo group (P<0.0001). There was significant mean difference of crying time, i.e. 0.16 (SD 0.37) in glucose group vs 2.05 (SD 0.77) in placebo group (P