We feel usage of appropriate pain assessment tool could have further strengthened the final outcome in the study. Despite obvious limitations, behavioral measurement of pain in preverbal children is of major importance, when treating pain and evaluating the effectiveness of therapy. There is need for development of tools that are valid and easy to use in clinical situations. Comparison of pain response to venipuncture between term and preterm neonates. Stevens BJ, Johnston C, Horton L. Factors that influence behavioral pain responses of premature infants.
Pain relief can reduce hypoxemia in distressed neonates during routine treatment procedures.
Development and initial validation. However, preterms differ from term babies in these parameters with spontaneous activity even without pain stimulation. Since this study was aimed at comparing paing response in preterm and term babies, a simpler combination of behavioral and physiological parameters was used. Regarding the influence of behavioral state on pain response, we recognize that the initial state of alertness is of considerable significance. As indicated in our report, the time interval between feed and the procedure was kept similar in the two groups.