Nature and frequency of painful procedures by pain severity
| Procedure Severity of pain* | Frequency | Per cent |
|---|---|---|
| Mild | ||
| Nasopharyngeal suctioning | 22 | 5 |
| Removal of a peripheral catheter | 15 | 4 |
| Others† | 7 | 2 |
| Mild to moderate | ||
| Insertion of nasal cannula | 68 | 17 |
| Insertion of nasogastric tube | 37 | 9 |
| Removal of adhesive tapes | 15 | 4 |
| Subcutaneous injection | 2 | 0 |
| Oral-gastric suctioning | 2 | 0 |
| Moderate to severe | ||
| Insertion of peripheral venous catheter | 105 | 27 |
| Intramuscular injection | 86 | 22 |
| Venepuncture | 27 | 7 |
| Heelstick | 13 | 3 |
| Wound dressing | 5 | 1 |
| Total | 404 | 100 |
*Schema adapted from Stevens et al.5
†Includes nasal aspiration and diaper change; considered very stressful in preterm neonates.12