ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the focus of pediatricians’ gaze during the heel prick of neonates. Methods: Prospective study in which pediatricians wearing eye tracker glasses evaluated neonatal pain before/after a heel prtick. Pediatricians scored the pain they perceived in the neonate in a verbal analogue numerical scale (0=no pain; 10=maximum pain). The outcomes measured were number and time of visual fixations in upper face, lower face, and hands, in two 10-second periods, before (pre) and after the puncture (post). These outcomes were compared between the periods, and according to pediatricians’ pain perception: absent/mild (score: 0–5) and moderate/intense (score: 6–10). Results: 24 pediatricians (31 years old, 92% female) evaluated 24 neonates. The median score attributed to neonatal pain during the heel prick was 7.0 (Interquartile range: 5–8). Compared to pre-, in the post-periods, more pediatricians fixed their gaze on the lower face (63 vs. 92%; p=0.036) and the number of visual fixations was greater on the lower face (2.0 vs. 5.0; p=0.018). There was no difference in the number and time of visual fixations according to the intensity of pain. Conclusions: At bedside, pediatricians change their focus of attention on the neonatal face after a painful procedure, focusing mainly on the lower part of the face.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar o foco do olhar do pediatra durante a punção do calcanhar de neonatos. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo no qual pediatras, utilizando óculos de rastreamento visual, avaliaram a dor neonatal antes/depois de uma punção de calcanhar. Os pediatras pontuaram a dor de acordo com a sua percepção por meio de uma escala analógica verbal (0=sem dor; 10=dor máxima). Os desfechos analisados foram o número e o tempo das fixações visuais na face superior, face inferior e mãos, em dois períodos de 10 segundos, antes (PRÉ) e depois da punção (PÓS). Os resultados foram comparados entre os períodos e segundo a percepção da dor do pediatra: ausente/leve (escore: 0–5) e moderada/grave (escore: 6–10). Resultados: Vinte e quatro pediatras (31 anos, 92% sexo feminino) avaliaram 24 neonatos. A mediana do escore atribuído à dor do recém-nascido durante a punção do calcanhar foi 7,0 (intervalo interquartil: 5–8). Comparado ao período PRÉ, no período PÓS, o maior número de pediatras fixou o olhar na face inferior (63 vs. 92%; p=0,036) e o número de fixações visuais foi maior na face inferior (2,0 vs. 5,0; p=0,018). Não houve diferença no número e no tempo das fixações visuais de acordo com a intensidade da dor. Conclusões: À beira do leito, os pediatras mudam seu foco de atenção visual na face do recém-nascido após um procedimento doloroso, focando o olhar principalmente na parte inferior da face.

Abstract Objective: To analyze the regions that trigger the attention of adults’ gaze when assessing pain in newborn infants’ pictures and to verify if there are differences between health and non-health professionals. Method: Experimental study with 84 health professionals and 59 non-health professionals, who evaluated two images of 10 neonates, one at rest and the other during a painful procedure. Each image was shown for 7 seconds on a computer screen, while eye movements were tracked by the Tobii TX300 EyeTracker. After evaluating each image, participants gave a score from 0 (absent pain) to 10 (maximum pain), according to their perception of neonatal pain. For each image, the number and total time of gaze fixations in the forehead, eyes, nasolabial furrow, and mouth were studied. Comparisons between both groups of adults were made by an intraclass correlation coefficient, Student’s t-test, and Bland Altman graphic. Results: Health professionals (93% female; 34 ± 9 years old), compared to non-health professionals (64% female; 35 ± 11 years old), gave lower scores for images at rest (0.81 ± 0.50 vs. 1.59 ± 0.76; p = 0.010), with no difference for those obtained during the painful procedure (6.98 ± 1.08 vs. 6.73 ± 0.82). There was a strong or almost perfect correlation for the number of fixations in the mouth, eyes, forehead, and for the total fixation time in the eyes and forehead. Conclusions: Adults, irrespective of their profession, showed a homogeneous gaze pattern when evaluating pictures of neonates at rest or during a painful procedures.