Nonpharmacological Applications During the Retinopathy of Prematurity Examination and Their Effects on Pain Control

Abstract

Examination for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a very painful procedure. Therefore, pain management is essential given the possibility of sensory and behavioral problems in newborns, who are constantly exposed to painful stimuli. In this light, the use of nonpharmacological methods alone or in combination with pharmacological methods is recommended for pain control. This systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of nonpharmacological treatments on pain during ROP examination. Randomized controlled trials published in English between 2011 and 2021 and available in the electronic databases

Non-pharmacological pain relief interventions in preterm neonates undergoing screening for retinopathy of prematurity: a systematic review

“…Only 6 of the 14 studies on sweet taste were favourable for the intervention,46 48 51 52 55 63 while the remaining 8 showed no significant changes in the pain scores between the intervention and the control arms in the group. Contrary to the findings in this current review, the two recent meta-analyses earlier identified,34 35 reported that sweet taste was beneficial. Disher et al reported that sweet taste combined with topical anaesthesia and an adjunct intervention such as non-nutritive sucking had the highest probability of being the optimal intervention for pain management during ROP screening.…”

“…A systematic electronic search of large databases Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of systematic reviews, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov (USA) (for completed clinical trials) was conducted to identify available studies on the topic. An initial quick search of the topic revealed two meta-analyses published in 2018, 34 and 2022, 35 respectively. The search for the studies included in the 2018 study ended in 2017, while the 2022 meta-analysis included only six studies.…”

“…gov (USA) (for completed clinical trials) was conducted to identify available studies on the topic. An initial quick search of the topic revealed two meta-analyses published in 2018, 34 and 2022, 35 respectively. The search for the studies included in the 2018 study ended in 2017, while the 2022 metaanalysis included only six studies.…”

Compared Methods for Reducing Stress in ROP Exams; Stake-Holding Examiner Perspective

“…1 Non-pharmacologic methods have been used to reduce pain in ROP exams. In a review, both oral glucose and sucrose helped, but breast milk did not reduce Premature Infant Pain Profile, 26,27 but any of these may be considered insufficient to satisfactorily reduce substantial pain with exams. 28 Others found breast milk helpful before ROP exam stress.…”