Effect of Heel Warming with a Thermofor at Two Different Temperatures Before Heel Stick Sampling in Healthy Term Neonates on Total Crying and Procedure Durations: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of heel warming with a thermofor at two different temperatures before heel stick sampling in healthy term neonates on total crying and procedure durations. 
 Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial. The sample for the research comprised 120 healthy term neonates with heel stick sampling performed by the same nurse. Neonates were randomized into control (n = 40), heel warming with a thermofor containing warm water (n = 40) and heel warming with a thermofor containing hot water (n = 40) three groups. In the study, to determine the efficacy of the heel warming intervention, neonates were recorded for six minutes before heel stick sampling and five minutes after heel puncture with a video camera. 
 Results: In the study, both the total procedure duration and total crying duration were statistically significantly shorter in the group with heel warming with hot water compared to the control group (KW = 6.088, p = 0.016; KW = 7.611, p = 0.006, respectively). However, in the group with heel warming with warm water, there was no significant difference in terms of total crying and procedure durations compared to both the control group and the group with heel warming using hot water (p> 0.05).
 Conclusion: Before heel stick sampling in healthy term neonates, warming the heel with a thermofor containing hot water is effective in shortening the total crying and procedure durations.