Impact of compassionate speech on pain associated with IV catheter insertion
Abstract:
Background: Venipuncture is a common and painful procedure in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Thus, there is a necessity for cost-effective, safe, and nonpharmacological interventions to alleviate pain associated with frequent and painful procedures in infants.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of compassionate speech by nurses on the pain caused by venipuncture in premature infants.
Method: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 65 premature infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care units of the Imam Reza and Qaem hospitals in Mashhad, Iran. The control group received routine pain-reducing measures during the placement of the intravenous catheter, whereas the intervention group received the usual measures along with the nurse’s voice before, during and after catheter insertion. The intensity of pain in the infants was measured via the Premature Infant Pain Profile at 4 time points. Data analysis was performed via SPSS version 26.
Results: The results of the Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) test revealed that infants in the intervention group experienced 2.826 units less pain than those in the control group over time (P < .001).
Conclusion: The findings indicate that the presence of a nurse’s voice positively influences pain reduction in infants undergoing painful procedures. It is advisable to implement this cost-effective approach, particularly in situations where the mother is not present.
Reference:
Omidvar R, Razaghi N, Salari M, Boskabadi H. The Effect of the Nurse’s Compassionate Speech on the Pain Associated With Intravenous Catheter Insertion in Premature Neonates. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2025 Sep 8. doi: 10.1097/JPN.0000000000000958. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40923972.