Non-pharmacological interventions in the control of pain in newborns pre-term: knowledge of nursing staff

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the knowledge of the nursing staff on non-pharmacological pain management and describe the main non-pharmacological methods for pain management in preterm newborns under intensive care. Method: Exploratory-descriptive study, with a qualitative approach, carried out in an Intensive Care Unit, in Fortaleza-CE, Brazil, whose data collection was carried out from July to August 2018, through interviews and observation of nursing care to neonates. Two nurses and six nursing technicians participated and four newborns were observed for physiological and behavioral responses to invasive procedures during intensive care. Results: The methods most used by the nursing team in the researched unit were: 25% glucose serum, non-nutritive suction, facilitated containment, breast milk and Kangaroo Method. Conclusion: Some participants demonstrated that they do not know the methods for non-pharmacological management of pain in preterm newborns, confirming the need for more research related to the theme investigated.