Comparing the effects of oral sucrose and kangaroo mother care on selected physiological variables and pain resulting from venipuncture in premature newborns admitted to neonatal intensive care units

Abstract Background Premature newborns admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) undergo numerous painful interventions during care and treatment. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of using sucrose and kangaroo mother care by on selected physiological variables and pain resulting from venipuncture in premature infants admitted to NICUs affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Methods This clinical trial included premature infants admitted to 2 NICUs. The sample size consisted of 66 neonates, with 22 newborns in each group. Randomization was performed using the block allocation method. Data collection involved a demographic questionnaire, the neonatal infant pain scale, and a pulse oximetry device. Friedman, Kruskal–Wallis, and Dunn’s post hoc tests employed for data analysis, with a significance level of P