Abstract:
This study was a quasi-experimental research with repeated-measurement, conducted
to determine the effect of swaddling on pain response from endotracheal suction in
premature infant. The sample was 25 premature infants under 37 weeks gestation age who
had been admitted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at B.M.A. Medical Colleague and
Vajira Hospital, B.M.A. General Hospital, and Charoenkrungpracharuk Hospital. As the
babies were observed twice a day, once swaddled, once unswaddled, they acted as their
own controls. Physiologic measurement (heart rate and oxygen saturation) was assessed
by using a pulse oximeter and pain measurement was assessed by using Stevens’
Premature Infant Pain Profile.
The results of this study are as follows:
1. The mean pain score of swaddled premature infants during suctioning was
significantly lower than unswaddled premature infants.
2. The mean heart rate of swaddled premature infants during suctioning was
significantly lower than unswaddled premature infants.
3. The mean oxygen saturation of premature infants during suctioning was not
significantly different between swaddled and unswaddled premature infants.
The results from this study suggest that swaddling premature infants during
suctioning could relieve pain response from endotracheal suction, with a lower in mean
pain scores and heart rate than for unswaddled premature infants. Therefore the researcher
recommends that neonatal nurses should use swaddling to relieve pain from endotracheal
suction