Crossover Study: Effect of Facilitated Tucking Position on Preterm Infants Pain and suction duration during Endotracheal Suctioning

Abstract

Background: Preterm infants are frequently subjected to many painful procedures. One of the valuable strategy of non-pharmacological methods that helps the preterm infant to manage procedural pain is the facilitated tucking position. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of facilitated tucking position on preterm infants' pain and suction duration during endotracheal suctioning. The design of this study was randomized controlled crossover design. It was carried out at neonatal intensive care unit in El Gamea El Sharea Center and Shebin El-Koom Teaching Hospital at Shebin El-Koom City. Sample: A purposive random sample of 30 premature infants was selected from the settings mentioned previously. Instruments: Three data collection instruments were used; preterm infant's assessment sheet, preterm infant pain profile and Suction Duration assessment sheet. Results: preterm infants with intervention had shorter suction duration (14.60 ± 3.32 VS 18.93 ± 4.37), lower pain score (9.20 ± 3.03 VS 13.03 ±3.10), more physiological stability, mean maximum heart rate (9.96 VS 16.80) and mean minimum oxygen saturation (3.73 VS 5.93). It was concluded that, infants who were in facilitated tucking position during endotracheal suctioning experienced more physiological stability, lower pain score and shorter suction duration compared to preterm infants who was received routine endotracheal suctioning. So, it was recommended that facilitated tucking position could be included in standard daily care during painful procedures for preterm infants.