Heel prick test:

humanization of healthcare provided to newborns

Abstract

JUSTIFICATION: The goal of the exam offered by the National Program of Neonatal Screening is to screen, diagnose and treat birth-defect diseases. Just one blood sample collection is recommended for each newborn (NB), and it should be repeated in case of evidence of any disease. In some health services a new blood collection is necessary due to factors such as: first collection made before the recommended time, error in collection or in preparing the samples or in the shipping time. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the care provided to NBs and their families when collecting material for the 'Heel Prick Test', in a university hospital located in northwest Parana. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a transverse observational study. Population: all the babies born in the University Hospital of Maringá-UEM between September/2006 and October/2007, plus the hospitalized patients who were screened in the period. RESULTS: The sample was composed by 975 NBs including 110 (11.3%) patients recruited for new blood collection. The highest index of recruitment for new blood collection occurred in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (n=72; 65.5%), followed by Obstetrics and Gynecology (n=20; 18.2%), Semi-intensive Care Unit (n=11; 10%) and Pediatrics (n=7; 6.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The high number of 2nd, 3rd and 4th blood collections without registration of the reasons shows the need to reflect about humanizing healthcare. On one side these recollections hurt the baby and the family, physically and emotionally; on the other side, they affect the nursing professional, who may need a specific training to gain more confidence and, thus, more resources to provide a humanized and effective care