Does Mother Scented Simulated Hand Promote Comfort, Reduce Pain and Distress Among Mechanically Ventilated Preterm Neonates During Invasive Procedures

A quasi-experimental, pre-posttest, two group, study was carried out in NICU of in Smouha, Alexandria. A sample of 62 mechanically ventilated neonates were randomly assigned to two equal groups; the study group wrapped with a warm MSSH during the invasive procedures while the control group received standard care of NICU. Two observers independently rated the neonates' level of comfort, distress, and pain during Endotracheal Suctioning (ETS) and heel prick using COMFORTneo Scale.

On day one of mechanical ventilation, the neonates received the same standard care of the NICU, while they wrapped with a warm Mother-Scented Simulated Hand as follow; simulated hand was scented with mothers' body odor by placing it on the mothers' bare chest or behind the neck for one hour. Then, the MSSH was placed under a radiant warmer for a couple of minutes to reach the mothers' unique warm touch. Inside the incubator, the mechanically ventilated neonates were placed in a side-lying flexed fetal position, where they encircled with the two warm simulated human hand to contain them. Where the palm of one MSSH cupped the neonates' head, and the palm of the other hand cupped the lower part of body and extremities. The neonates were kept in such a position throughout the mentioned invasive procedures. Neonates' physiological response, comfort, distress, and pain levels were assessed the same way as the first day.