Effect of using crochet octopus in reducing the pain: a randomized controlled study

Abstract

Aims The study aimed to determine the effect of using a crochet octopus to reduce acute pain and maintain optimal physiological measurements that develops during procedural pain in neonates. Materials and methods This was a parallel design randomized controlled study. During the procedure of heel lance, experimental groups were delivered a crochet octopus 10 min before the process and let them touch the octopus during and for up to 10 min after the procedure. Control group experienced the process without any intervention. SpO2, duration of crying of neonates and pain they experienced were evaluated. Results The study was completed with 100 (50 for the experimental group and 50 for the control group) term neonates. SpO2 of neonates, touching the crochet octopus during and after in second minute of the process was found higher and also the duration of crying was shorter during whole the process, and the pain they experienced due to the process was lower than the control group. Conclusions Crochet octopus affected physiological measurements of the neonates positively and reduced the procedural pain as well.

Complications of Preterm Birth—The Importance of Care for the Outcome: A Narrative Review

“…On the one hand, our little patients have what they need, and, on the other hand, octopuses make the work of medical professionals easier, since the baby does not feel the need to grab or tear the probes, feeding tubes, and other tubes which are there to ensure their progress in the incubator, as can happen when they do not have an octopus next to themselves. Octopuses soothe small patients and enable them to have a more stable state of health conditioned by basal functions such as heart rate and breathing [ 48 ] ( Figure 2 ).…”

Dexmedetomidine: An Alternative to Pain Treatment in Neonatology

“…Behavioral strategies: these strategies consist of directly or indirectly manipulate the neonate to block the transmission of nociception or directly activate inhibitory pathways [ 24 ]. More than fifteen strategies have demonstrated their benefits to relief the pain [ 27 ]: skin to skin contact (Kangaroo care), facilitated tucking (hand-hugging), non-nutritive sucking and other sucking strategies (finger or pacifier), swaddle methods, rocking, breastfeeding, co-bedding (placing twins together in the same incubator) [ 25 ] sweet solutions, touch-massage therapies, simulated mother’s voice, parents presence, familiar odor, nonfamiliar odor (such as vanilla, lavender or other pleasant smells) [ 28 ], warming the neonate’s heel before a heel lance procedure, music therapy or even touching crochet toys (such as octopus) during painful procedures among others [ 29 ].…”