Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effect of family integrated-care in reducing precrural pain due to heel stick among premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Methods: Following convenient sampling, between June, 2018 and February, 2019, a total of 72 premature infants were included in the study and randomized into control group (n=35) and family integrated-care group (n=37) which included daily care, sensory intervention and kangaroo care with cooperation between parents and nurses. The Preterm Infant Pain Profile-Revised was used to assess the procedural pain after family integrated-care was implemented at three time points: after the third, fifth and seventh intervention. Results: Among infants in the family integrated-care group at each of the three time points, the scores of PIPP-R were 8.14±1.03, 6.65±0.86, 6.51±1.37, respectively, while the control group reported were 11.14±0.88, 11.00±084, 10.43±0.70, respectively. The result showed that, compared to the control group, the physical status and sensitivity to pain among infants in the family integrated-care group were significantly better after the fifth and seventh intervention (P<0.05). Conclusion: The family integrated-care could relieve premature infant procedural pain in NICU, promote effective communication among neonatal families, which is proved as an effective, safe and economical approach to neonatal pain relief among premature infants and is worthy of being introduced to NICU.

Key words: family integrated-care; premature infant; procedural pain