Effects of Using Various Heel-Warming Methods Such as Warm Towel Warming and a Thermophore Heating Pad Warming Before Heel Stick on Newborns’ Pain Level and Duration of Crying; A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Abstract
Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the effects of two different warming methods such as warming with a thermophore heating pad and warming with a warm towel performed before heel stick on healthy term newborn’s pain level and the duration of crying.
Methods: In the sample of this randomized controlled trial, a total of 147 neonates were randomly assigned to three groups as group 1: control group (n = 50), group 2: thermophore-warming group (n = 47) and group 3: warm towel-warming group (n= 50). To collect the study data, the “Descriptive Information Form”, “Follow-up Form”, and “Neonatal Infant Pain Scale” were used.
Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of the mean scores obtained from the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale during the intervention and at the 1st and 2nd minutes after the intervention (p<0.05). According to the results of the Post Hoc analysis, while the difference during the intervention stemmed from the thermophore pad warming group, the difference determined at the 1st and 2nd minutes after the intervention stemmed from the thermophore pad warming and warm towel warming groups. The duration of crying was shorter in newborns in the thermophore pad warming and warm towel warming groups than it was in the newborns in the control group (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The analysis of the results of this randomized controlled study demonstrated that warming performed with a thermophore heating pad and warm towel just before in newborns reduced their pain level and shortened the total crying time.
Clinical Trials ID: NCT06847048
Keywords
References
- 1. Aydin D, İnal S. Effects of breastfeeding and heel warming on pain levels during heel stick in neonates. Int J Nurs Pract. 2019;25(3):e12734. doi:10.1111/ijn.12734
- 2. Pillai Riddell RR, Bucsea O, Shiff I, et al. Non-pharmacological management of infant and young child procedural pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023;6(6):CD006275. Published 2023 Jun 14. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006275.pub4
- 3. Toennesen UL, Kierkegaard H, Kofoed PE, et al. Warming Prior to Heel Stick: Blood Sample Quality and Infant Comfort-A Randomized Controlled Trial. Adv Neonatal Care. 2023;23(6):E129-E138. doi:10.1097/ANC.0000000000001110
- 4. Fleishman RA, & Mayock DE. Neonatal pain and stress: Assessment and management. Avery’s Diseases of the Newborn, Tenth Edition., 2018;432-445. doi:10.1016/C2013-0-00320-9.
- 5. Dur Ş, Çağlar S, Yıldız NU, et al. The effect of Yakson and Gentle Human Touch methods on pain and physiological parameters in preterm infants during heel lancing. Intensive Crit Care Nurs. 2020;61:102886. doi:10.1016/j.iccn.2020.102886
- 6. Bresesti I, Vanzù G, Redaelli F, et al. New perspective for pain control in neonates: a comparative effectiveness research. J Perinatol. 2021;41(9):2298-2303. doi:10.1038/s41372-021-01025-6
- 7. Avcin E, Kucukoglu S. The Effect of Breastfeeding, Kangaroo Care, and Facilitated Tucking Positioning in Reducing the Pain During Heel Stick in Neonates. J Pediatr Nurs. 2021;61:410-416. doi:10.1016/j. pedn.2021.10.002
- 8. Deniz AÖ, Açikgöz A. A. Randomized Controlled Trial: The Effect of Acupressure and Foot Reflexology on Pain During Heel-Lancing in Neonates. Clin Nurs Res. 2023;32(2):306-312. doi:10.1177/10547738211061815
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Pediatric Health and Illnesses Nursing
Journal Section
Research Article
Early Pub Date
September 23, 2025
Publication Date
October 1, 2025
Submission Date
June 24, 2025
Acceptance Date
September 9, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2025 Volume: 16 Number: 4
EndNote
Aydın Yılmaz D, İnal S (October 1, 2025) Effects of Using Various Heel-Warming Methods Such as Warm Towel Warming and a Thermophore Heating Pad Warming Before Heel Stick on Newborns’ Pain Level and Duration of Crying; A Randomized Controlled Trial. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 16 4 605–613.