Journal of North Khorasan

Backgrounds and Objectives: Eye examination for Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) screening is a painful procedure that causes behavioral changes in premature infants. Multisensory stimulation is a non-pharmacological analgesic method, which affects the behavior measures during painful procedures. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of multisensory stimulation on infant behavior during an eye examination for ROP screening.

Material & Methods: In this single blind randomized clinical trial, eighty premature from Khatamolanbya hospital in Mashhad at July 2014were divided randomly into two groups. In the intervention group, multisensory stimulation was performed 15 minutes before the start of the examination and the control group received standard care. Infant behaviors were recorded at 30 seconds intervals; before, during, and after eye examination. Data were analyzed by independent t test and repeated measures ANOVA using the SPSS version 14 software.

Results: 53.2% of the babies were girls and 46.8% were boys. The mean gestational age of multisensory stimulation was 30.6±1.8 weeks and the normal group was 30/6 ± 8/1 weeks. Behavioral status was significantly different in both groups during the evaluation (p<0/001). Behavioral changes during the examination of the two groups was significant (p<0/001); however there was a greater reduction in the control in comparison with the intervention group.

Conclusion: Multisensory stimulation program causes lower changes in behavioral status, and can be used as a way to reduce behavioral changes during an eye examination in infants.