The effect of auditory stimulation on pain response of preterm infants

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of auditory stimulation on preterm infants' pain responses. A quasi-experimental design was utilized in this study. Thirty preterm infants were recruited for the study. They were one group used for three days as day one (routine care), day two (music intervention) and day three (recorded mother voice intervention) before, during and after blood sample procedure (heel prick) from Cairo University hospitals (El Monira and Kasar Aini). A tool containing two parts was used for data collection: 1) socio-demographic data for the preterm infants and the mothers, 2) Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) tool for physiological responses (heart rate, oxygen saturation) behavioral state, brow bulge, eye squeeze, nasolabial furrow and respiratory rate was determined. Results of the study showed that during heel prick the majority of preterm infants (96.7%) who were exposed to recorded mother voice had highly statistical significant no or minimal pain followed by music groups (66.7%). On the other hand, nearly half of the cases (46.7%) had moderate pain and (30%) had severe pain among control group. There were significant differences between the three groups in the behavioral state, brow bulge, eye squeeze and nasolabial furrow (P≤0.001) and improved oxygen saturation (P≤0.05). After heel prick, the preterm infants (100%) who were exposed to recorded mother voice had highly statistically significant no or minimal pain in the items of behavioral state, eye squeeze and nasolabial furrow (P≤0.001), brow bulge was significantly lower (P≤0.05) when comparing by control or music group. In Conclusion, exposure to recorded mother voice during heel prick of preterm infants is better than exposure to music or no intervention and this was manifested by lower pain level, decrease heart rate, improved oxygen saturation and respiration.

Key words: Auditory stimulation; recorded mother voice; music; pain response; physiological responses; behavioral state