Pain Management with ROP Position in Turkish Preterm Infants During Eye Examinations: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of infant positioning on pain, heart rate, oxygen saturation and crying time during examination. The randomized controlled experimental study was carried out on 70 preterm infants. ROP position + pacifier was used in the experimental group (n = 35) while only the pacifier was used in the control group. Heart rates, oxygen saturation, crying duration and pain score (Premature Infant Pain Profile-PIPP) were evaluated before, during and after the screening. The preterm infants in the experimental group recorded lower pain scores at the beginning of the screening (p = 0.01), at the end of the screening (p = 0.01) and after screening (p = 0.01) than those in the control group. The heart rate was higher in the control group during screening (p = 0.010) and after screening (p = 0.008) than in the preterm infants in the experimental group. Oxygen saturation was not significantly different between the groups before, during or after screening. Crying duration was lower in the experimental group than in the control group (p = 0.010). Positioning of the infant to support behavioral organization was found to be effective in reducing pain and shortening crying time during eye examination, and had favorable effects on physiological variables with ROP position during eye examinations. ROP position is a practical and effective non-pharmacological method during eye examinations by neonatal nurses. •Eye examinations performed to monitor retinal development in preterm infants are painful procedures.•The ROP position is an important nursing intervention that focuses on maintaining a physiological flexion posture during eye examinations, reducing crying time, and supporting the maintenance of physiological stability and behavioral organization of preterm infants.•ROP position is an effective position during eye examinations in Neonatal Intensive Care Unıt’s by neonatal nurses.