Effectiveness of a therapeutic bath for pain relief in hospitalized children with respiratory conditions: Randomized controlled clinical trial

Aim: To assess the effectiveness of a therapeutic bath combined with analgesic medication versus the use of analgesic medication alone in alleviating generalized acute pain in hospitalized children with respiratory conditions.

Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial, with parallel groups, with children aged 28 days to 3 years who were hospitalized for respiratory conditions with associated pain. Participants were allocated into two groups: 40 children to a control group (CG), which received isolated analgesic medication at same time, and 40 children to an intervention group (IG), which received both a therapeutic bath and analgesic medication. In the IG, baths were administered by a family member, the researcher, or a staff member. Each bath lasted a minimum of 5 min, with the water temperature maintained between 37 and 39 °C and 2/3 of the child's body submerged. The child was removed from the bath before the water temperature reached 36 °C. Pain was assessed in both groups at T0 (initial assessment by the researcher), T1 (15 min), T2 (30 min), and T3 (60 min) after medication. Data received descriptive and inferential analysis. International ethical recommendations were followed.

Results: Eighty children were recruited, 40 allocated to each group, with no statistical differences at the pretest. The IG exhibited a faster and more pronounced decrease in pain scores at various reevaluation times, including a significant reduction at T1. This decrease was consistent across all assessment scale parameters.

Conclusion: A therapeutic bath combined with analgesic medication effectively relieved pain in hospitalized children with respiratory conditions. Trial and Protocol Registration: Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry.