Comparison of the efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions during the heel stick procedure on pain level, duration of crying, and voice decibel of newborns: a randomized controlled trial

Objective: To compare the efficacy of different non-pharmacological interventions (kangaroo care, cuddling, playing white noise, ambient sound) applied to newborns during heel stick procedure on newborns’ pain level, duration crying, and voice decibel. Methods: This is a prospective, randomized controlled trial including pre- post-tests four groups. The setting neonatal intensive care unit in Türkiye. One hundred thirty-six were recruited. Newborns randomly assigned groups (i) kangaroo (ii) (iii) (iv) sound. Pain measures recorded 1 minute before, during, 3 minutes after blood collection based Neonatal Infant Scale (NIPS). Results: There was significant difference between levels (χ2=16.910, p=.001) durations crying (χ2=13.888, p=.003) depending intervention. who received significantly lower compared those listened sound procedure. lapped by their mothers also than are no highest decibel due intervention Conclusion: Kangaroo more effective reducing level crying. had effects newborns.