RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Neonatal pain response to heel stick vs venepuncture for routine blood sampling JF Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition JO Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health SP F143 OP F144 DO 10.1136/fn.77.2.F143 VO 77 IS 2 A1 Vibhuti S Shah A1 Anna Taddio A1 Sian Bennett A1 Brian D Speidel YR 1997 UL http://fn.bmj.com/content/77/2/F143.abstract AB Neonatal pain response and adverse effects and maternal anxiety were assessed in 27 infants who were randomly allocated to venepuncture or heel stick. Pain was assessed by nurses using the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) and a three point scale for the mothers. NIPS scores were higher in the heel stick group compared with the venepuncture group. Maternal anxiety was higher before the procedure while perception of an infant’s pain was lower in the venepuncture group compared with the heel stick group. Venepuncture is less painful than heel stick in newborn infants undergoing routine blood sampling.