Research in effect of skin-to-skin contact and massage relieving pain during heel lance in the newborn

Objective To compare the effect of skin-to-skin contact and massage interventions on the pain caused by heel lance in the newborn.Methods A total of 90 newborns were recruited and divided into three group:the control group (n =30),the massage group (n =30) and the skin-to-skin contact group (n =30).The newborns heart rate (HR),oxygen saturation (SpO2),grimacing and crying time were observed between the three groups.Results The grimacing and crying time in the two intervention groups were significantly shorter than that in the control group [skin-to-skin contact group:(69.27 ± 14.7) and (34.16 ±9.7) s,massage group:(71.07 ± 11.4) and (42.09 ± 12.6) s,control group:(98.10 ± 22.5) and (67.30 ±12.5)s;F=33.36,38.35;P ＜0.01],as well as the DAN score[skin-to-skin contact group(5.17 ± 1.3),massage group:(4.89± 1.6),control group:(7.30 ± 2.1) ; F =26.38,P ＜ 0.01)].The variety of HR and SpO2 [skin-to-skin contact group:(-9.27 ± 4.70) times/min,(6.37 ± 0.58) ％,massage group:(-8.69 ±3.80) times/min,(5.88 ± 0.34) ％,control group:(-21.30 ± 6.51) times/min,(11.78 ± 0.15) ％],the convalescence time of HR and SpO2 [skin-to-skin contact group:(66.27 ± 16.70) and (61.56 ± 11.30) s,massage group:(71.43 ± 15.90) and(64.09 ± 12.90) s,control group:(90.51 ± 19.80) and(87.30 ±17.80) s] had significant difference between the three groups (F =35.27,31.87,24.78,28.46,respectively ;P ＜0.01).Conclusions Skin-to-skin contact and massage can relieve pain during heel lance,and skin-to-skin contact can reduce the crying time better than massage. Key words: Pain;  Skin-to-skin contact; Massage;  Heel lance