Ab. No. 8 Neonatal Procedural Pain and Neuromotor Changes on Multisensory Stimulation and Soft Tissue Therapy Among Hospitalized Preterm Neonates: One-Group Pretest-Post-Test Trial

Abstract

Introduction: Neonatal physiotherapy procedures including MSS and STT might be beneficial for reducing pain and improving neuromotor outcomes among hospitalized neonates. To determine the effects of MSS and STT on reducing procedural pain and improving neuromotor outcomes among hospitalized preterm neonates. Methods: MSS and STT were provided for 5 days of NICU stay. The Premature Infant Pain Profile-Revised (PIPP-R) and Neonatal Pain and Sedation Scale (N-PASS) were used for assessing procedural pain. For assessing neuromotor outcomes among preterm neonates, Infant Neurological International Battery (INFANIB) and Premie neuro scale were used. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for estimating the statistically significant difference. Effect Size (ES) within the group was calculated by using the formulae “Wilcoxon Signed-ranks test” for ES. Result: Both statistically significant differences (p<0.05), and clinically important differences were noted in procedural pain (PIPP-R; 3.0, N-PASS; 3.0) and neuromotor outcomes (INFANIB; 3.0, Premie Neuro; 8.0) among hospitalized preterm neonates. Conclusion: MSS and STT given for 5 days of NICU stay reduces procedural pain, and improves neuromotor development among hospitalized preterm neonates. MSS and STT might be given as early intervention care regularly for reducing pain and promoting neuromotor development among hospitalized preterm neonates. However, further randomized controlled trial is needed to substantiate these findings.