The effect of multi-sensory stimulation method on pain andphysiological parameters during infancy immunization:Randomized controlled study

Objective The study was carried out to investigate the effect of the multisensory stimulus method applied by the mother and the nurse on the infant's pain and physiological parameters during immunisation in 2-6-month-old infants. Method The study was conducted as a randomised controlled experimental design between March and December 2023 at Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. The sample consisted of 96 infants from the 1st experimental group (MAG) (n=24) in which the mother applied multisensory stimulus method, the 2nd experimental group (NAG) (n=24) in which the nurse applied multisensory stimulus method, the 3rd experimental group (BG) (n=24) in which the mother exclusively breastfed, and the control group (CG) (n=24). Data were collected using Infant and Mother Descriptive Information Form, Infant Follow-up Form, FLACC Pain Scale, Multisensory Stimulus Application Form, Pulse Oximetry Device, Weighing Device, Height and Head Circumference Measurement Tape, Camera-Tripot and stopwatch. Peak heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO2) were collected and recorded 5 min before, 2 min before, immediately before, immediately after, 2 min after and 5 min after vaccination. FLACC Pain Scale and video recording was taken to evaluate the duration of crying after the procedure. Findings The groups were similar in terms of demographic and descriptive characteristics (p>0.05), and there was a statistically significant difference between the FLACC Pain Scale total score values measured during the whole procedure according to the groups (p<0.05). FLACC Pain Scale total score values of MAG and NAG were lower than BG and CG. There was a statistically significant difference between the SpO2 values measured during the whole procedure according to the groups (p<0.05). The SpO2 values of NAG at the 2nd minute before the procedure and just before the procedure, MAG at the 2nd minute immediately after the procedure and at the 2nd minute after the procedure, and MAG and NAG at the 5th minute after the procedure were higher than those of CG. There was no statistically significant difference between the HR values measured during the whole procedure according to the groups (p<0.05). It was observed that the crying period of CG lasted longer than MAG and NAG. Conclusion It was determined that the Multisensory Stimulus Method (MSM) applied by the mother and nurse reduced pain. It is recommended to generalise its use in application areas.