The effect of the scents of breastmilk and lavander on newborns' pain and comfort during the heel stick procedure at the newborn intensive care unit

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of breast milk and lavender scents applied during heel stick procedure on the pain and comfort of newborns. Materials and Methods: This study is a crossover single-blind randomized controlled experimental study. The study was conducted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Aydın Adnan Menderes University Application and Research Hospital between September 15, 2021 and January 31, 2022. Newborns at 37-42 weeks of gestation hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit were included in the sample. 36 newborns constituted the sample of the study. Three groups (Breast Milk, Lavender, Control Data Groups) were measured on the same newborn on different days to prevent odor diffusion. Prior to the procedure, odor sponges were placed 5 cm away from the newborn's nose. The data were collected using the Newborn Identification/Data Collection Form, the Newborn Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) and the Newborn Comfort Behavior Scale (NCCS). Frequency tables and descriptive statistics were used to interpret the data. Nonparametric methods were used for measurement values that were not suitable for normal distribution. In accordance with nonparametric methods, "Friedman" test (χ2-table value) method and "Spearman" correlation coefficient were used to examine the relationship between two quantitative variables that did not have normal distribution. Results: While the comfort measurements of lavender data group 3 minutes before the procedure were significantly lower than the control data group (p<0.001), there was no statistically significant difference between the data groups in terms of pain measurements (p>0.05). During the procedure, pain and comfort measurements of the lavender and breast milk data groups were significantly lower than the control data group (p<0.001), while there was no significant difference between pain and comfort measurements of those in the lavender and breast milk data groups (p>0.05). 3 minutes after the procedure, pain measurements in the lavender data group were significantly lower than control data group (p=0.002). The comfort measurements of lavender and breast milk data groups were significantly lower than the control data group (p=0.001). Conclusion: It was found that breast milk and lavender scents applied during heel prick blood collection in the neonatal intensive care unit had a decreasing effect on the pain and increasing effect on the comfort of the newborn. Key words: Aromatherapy, breast milk smell, newborn pain, nurse, patient comfort.