Mean Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) pain scores and severity for each procedure
| Severity of pain procedure | NIPS pain score* |
| Severe pain | |
| Peripheral intravenous cannulation | 6.17±1.24 |
| Arterial catheterisation | 6.13±1.06 |
| Arterial blood sampling | 5.97±1.43 |
| Peripherally inserted central catheter placement | 5.52±0.87 |
| Nasopharyngeal suctioning | 5.24±1.63 |
| Mild to moderate pain | |
| Finger prick | 4.71±1.57 |
| Intramuscular injection | 4.58±1.50 |
| Adhesive removal | 4.20±2.68 |
| Endotracheal intubation suctioning | 4.11±1.22 |
| Heel prick | 3.81±2.37 |
| Lumbar puncture | 3.71±1.33 |
| Subcutaneous injection | 3.33±1.80 |
| No pain or mild pain | |
| Gastric tube insertion | 1.84±1.06 |
| Enema | 1.15±0.92 |
| Intravenous injection | 1.10±1.52 |
*Data are presented as mean±SD.