Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41494755›Full record

Trial reportBMJ paediatrics open2026

Effects of Kangaroo care during retinopathy screening examination: a randomised clinical trial.

Hai-Bo Huang, Yin Xue, Yanxia Liang, Xue-Qing Wan, Jing Wu, Qian-Shen Zhang, Po-Yin Cheung

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMJ paediatrics open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Hai-Bo HuangPediatrics, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
Yin XuePediatrics, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
Yanxia LiangPediatrics, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
Xue-Qing WanPediatrics, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
Jing WuOphthalmology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
Qian-Shen ZhangPediatrics, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
Po-Yin CheungPediatrics, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China poyin@ualberta.ca.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7141-1523

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveProviding Kangaroo care (K-care) helps comfort infants through painful and stressful procedures including retinopathy screening examination (RSE) for retinopathy of prematurity. We examined the early pain-related and delayed inflammatory effects of K-care during the first RSE in preterm infants.

designRandomised clinical trial.

settingIn a family-centred neonatal intensive care unit between 1 March 2023 and 31 August 2024. PATIENTS: Preterm infants (gestation <34+0 weeks and/or birth weight <2000 g) who required RSEs.

interventionsPatients were randomly assigned to K-care provided by mother or father during RSE or control group on an examination table (n=50/group).

main outcome measuresThe Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) score within the first minute of RSE was measured. Salivary samples (>110 uL) were collected before, at 1 and 6-8 hours after RSE for assays of cortisol, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels by ELISA methods in a blinded fashion.

results100 infants (mean±SD gestational age: 31.1±2.4 weeks; birth weight: 1496±452 g, 58% males) were enrolled. Compared with controls (n=50), infants of the K-care group (n=50) had significantly lower PIPP score (11.0 vs 12.9; p=0.002); salivary cortisol levels (4.9 vs 6.9 ng/mL; p=0.001) at 1 hour after RSE, interleukin-6 (31.9 vs 34.7 pg/mL; p=0.01) and TNF-α (53.9 vs 58.6 pg/mL; p=0.02), but not interleukin-1β (50.4 vs 53.0 pg/mL; p=0.46), levels at 6-8 hour after RSE.

conclusionsProviding K-care during RSE in preterm infants may potentially reduce pain-related stress, cortisol and inflammatory responses.

Indexed as

Kangaroo-Mother Care MethodNeonatal ScreeningRetinopathy of PrematurityFemaleHumansHydrocortisoneInfant, NewbornInfant, PrematureIntensive Care Units, NeonatalMalePainPain MeasurementSalivaHydrocortisoneIntensive Care Units, NeonatalNeonatologyOphthalmologyPain

Identifiers

PMID41494755
PMCPMC12778260

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.