None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The Magnific Study aims to determine if the use of magnetic acupuncture will reduce the stress and pain experienced by infants in newborn intensive care units in response to a very common painful stimulus, heel pricks for blood collection. Babies will be randomised to having 5 magnetic stickers or placebos placed on each ear for 3 days. During this time, the baby's response to a heel prick will be measured using a widely used pain scale, the PIPP score. After three days, the stickers (with and without magnets) will be removed and the PIPP scores will be examined.
Interventions
Magnets or placebos will be placed at five ear points (both ears) at least 2 hours before a heel prick. The magnets or placebos will be left for three days during which the infant will be assessed for his/her response to the heel prick with the PIPP (Premature Infant Pain Profile) score. After three days, the magnets will be removed and the infant will be discharged from the study. The magnets are embedded in a sticker. The placebos are stickers with the magnets removed. A "bump" is created on
Magnets or placebos will be placed at five ear points (both ears) at least 2 hours before a heel prick. The magnets or placebos will be left for three days during which the infant will be assessed for his/her response to the heel prick with the PIPP (Premature Infant Pain Profile) score. After three days, the magnets will be removed and the infant will be discharged from the study. The magnets are embedded in a sticker. The placebos are stickers with the magnets removed. A "bump" is created on the surface of the sticker with liquid paper to mask the magnet. The magnet will be placed either by an acupuncturist or by a research officer who is trained by the acupuncturist. The stickers will be checked every day by the site research officer and replaced if they have fallen off before the end of the three day period.
Sponsors
Royal Hospital for Women
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
No minimum to 4 Weeks
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Infants who require a heel prick for blood collection in the NICU. Babies will be matched by gender, gestation and age.
Exclusion criteria
Babies who need sedation and analgesia for other reasons e.g. post-operative analgesia or who cannot express pain (e.g. muscle relaxed, intubated and ventilated).
Outcome results
None listed