The Effects of Acupressure and Paternal Holding on Pain and Physiological Parameters During Heel Lancing

Neonatal heel blood collection is a common medical procedure to obtain blood samples from newborns for diagnostic purposes. Although necessary for clinical evaluation, this procedure causes discomfort and distress in infants. The pain experienced during heel prick is a major concern and warrants exploration of effective and compassionate interventions to alleviate associated discomfort and reduce crying time. Non-pharmacological approaches, such as acupressure and cuddling, are thought to have important contributions to improving the overall experience of newborns undergoing this procedure. . The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of acupressure and paternal hugging interventions in relieving pain and reducing crying time during neonatal heel haemorrhage. The choice of these interventions was based on their potential to offer non-invasive and holistic approaches to pain management by addressing not only the physical but also the emotional dimensions of the neonatal experience.