Procedural Pain in Hospitalized Neonates in Kenya

The implementation of infant pain practice change resource to improve infant procedural pain practices: a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation study

ABSTRACT

Implementation of infant pain practice change (ImPaC) is a multifaceted web-based resource to support pain practice change in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). We evaluated the (1) intervention effectiveness and (2) implementation effectiveness of ImPaC using a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation study (ie, cluster randomized controlled trial and longitudinal descriptive study). Eligible level 2 and 3 Canadian NICUs were randomized to intervention (INT) or waitlisted to usual care (UC) for 6 months. We assessed the number of painful procedures, proportion of procedures accompanied by valid assessment and evidence-based treatment, and pain intensity to determine intervention effectiveness using intention-to-treat (ITT) and wait-list (WL) analyses. Implementation feasibility and fidelity were explored. Twenty-three NICUs participated (12 INT, 11 UC). Thirty infants/NICU were included in the ITT (INT = 354, UC = 325) and the WL (INT = 678, UC = 325) analyses. In the ITT analysis, the average number of painful procedures/infant/day was lower in the INT group [2.62 (±3.47) vs 3.85 (±4.13), P < 0.001] than in the UC group. Pain assessment was greater in the INT group (34.7% vs 25.5%, P < 0.001) and pain intensity scores were lower [1.47 (1.25) vs 1.86 (1.97); P = 0.029]. Similarly, in the WL analysis, there were fewer painful procedures/infant/day [3.11 (±3.98) vs 3.85 (±4.13), P = 0.003] and increased pain assessment (30.4% vs 25.5%, P = 0.0001) and treatment (31.2% vs 24.0%, P < 0.001) in the INT group. Feasibility and implementation fidelity were associated with improved clinical outcomes.

A scoping review of the epidemiology and treatment of painful procedures in hospitalized neonates: What has changed in the past three decades?

BACKGROUND

Care of newborns hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) includes multiple painful procedures/day. Epidemiologic studies have reported the frequency and nature of procedures and treatment interventions. However, evidence on the changing trends in the nature and frequency of neonatal pain procedures or treatments over time is absent or inconclusive. We aimed to determine the frequency and nature of painful procedures/neonate/day in the NICU.

DATABASES AND DATA TREATMENT

MEDLINE and Embase searches were conducted from database inception to July 2023. Studies that reported the nature and frequency of painful procedures and associated pain treatments in neonates were included. Standard inverse-variance random-effects meta-analyses were used to combine studies. Heterogeneity between studies was quantified using the I2 statistic.

RESULTS

Of 2622 unique citations, 64 full-text articles were reviewed; 23 were included. Six additional studies identified in a previous review, and six publications from reference lists were added, resulting in 35 studies. The mean number of painful procedures/neonate/day was 7.38 (95% CI 5.60, 9.17; range <2 to 17). Although the frequency of painful procedures in more recent studies was reduced, it was not statistically significant (p = 0.16). Painful procedures were more frequent during longer observation periods. Needle-related procedures were most common and did not change over time. Procedure-related treatment was suboptimal and inconsistently reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Frequency of painful procedures in the NICU has shown a clinically important decrease but has not significantly changed over time. A paradigm shift moving responsibility from providers to systems in changing pain practices in the NICU is required.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

The decrease in the daily frequency of painful procedures in hospitalized neonates might be clinically relevant but is not yet statistically significant. Pain treatment is insufficiently documented and reported. This lack of progress in neonatal care might be a result of the complexity of defining pain and stress; inconsistencies in determining the burden of procedural pain; the influence of barriers and facilitators on practice change; and the focus on an individual rather than system responsibility for pain prevention and treatment.

Multiple Attempts of Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Insertion in a Preterm Infant Provoke Toxic Stress: A Case Report

Premature infants admitted to the NICU often require intravenous (IV) therapy. Peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) insertion is a common painful/stressful/invasive procedure. Repeated exposure to stressors produces toxic stress: a prolonged, frequent activation of the body's stress response that occurs when buffering relationships, that is, mother/supportive adult, are absent. This article presents an exemplar case study of a PIVC insertion to describe toxic stress responses a premature infant experienced during the procedure. The infant was admitted for extreme prematurity and respiratory failure. Twenty-nine days later, the infant developed possible necrotizing enterocolitis that necessitated cessation of enteral feedings, gastric decompression, IV administration of fluids, parenteral nutrients, and antibiotics. The PIVC insertion procedure was monitored and observed. The infant showed physiologic dysregulation, including bradycardia, tachycardia, oxygen desaturation, and high skin conductance responses, resulting from the stress exposure and insufficient nonpharmacologic/pharmacologic stress interventions. Education and practice change are needed to promote pain/stress management.

Effect of non-pharmacological interventions on pain in preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of different non-pharmacological interventions for pain management in preterm infants and provide high-quality clinical evidence.

METHODS

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of various non-pharmacological interventions for pain management in preterm infants were searched from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from 2000 to the present (updated March 2023). The primary outcome was pain score reported as standardized mean difference (SMD). The secondary outcomes were oxygen saturation and heart rate reported as the same form.

RESULTS

Thirty five RCTs of 2134 preterm infants were included in the meta-analysis, involving 6 interventions: olfactory stimulation, combined oral sucrose and non-nutritive sucking (OS + NNS), facilitated tucking, auditory intervention, tactile relief, and mixed intervention. Based on moderate-quality evidence, OS + NNS (OR: 3.92, 95% CI: 1.72, 6.15, SUCRA score: 0.73), facilitated tucking (OR: 2.51, 95% CI: 1.15, 3.90, SUCRA score: 0.29), auditory intervention (OR: 2.48, 95% CI: 0.91, 4.10, SUCRA score: 0.27), olfactory stimulation (OR: 1.80, 95% CI: 0.51, 3.14, SUCRA score: 0.25), and mixed intervention (OR: 2.26, 95% CI: 0.10, 4.38, SUCRA score: 0.14) were all superior to the control group for pain relief. For oxygen saturation, facilitated tucking (OR: 1.94, 95% CI: 0.66, 3.35, SUCRA score: 0.64) and auditory intervention (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.22, 2.04, SUCRA score: 0.36) were superior to the control. For heart rate, none of the comparisons between the various interventions were statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that there are notable variations in the effectiveness of different non-pharmacological interventions in terms of pain scores and oxygen saturation. However, there was no evidence of any improvement in heart rate.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurses' Knowledge and Use of Sucrose for Neonatal Pain Management in Saudi Arabia

Introduction

Sucrose is an evidence-based intervention used for short-term pain management and distress from minor procedures. Limited research exists on nurses' knowledge and use of sucrose in Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Saudi Arabia.

Objective

To assess nurses' knowledge and use of sucrose in Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A cross-sectional online survey was used to collect data from a convenience sample of 68 neonatal intensive care nurses in Saudi Arabia. A modified tool assessed the knowledge and use of sucrose. Logistic regression analysis was used to find the predictors for sucrose use.

Results

Most respondents never used sucrose for neonatal pain management and did not receive any training on sucrose. The mean knowledge of nurses regarding sucrose and its use was very low (38%): 16% had a high level of knowledge regarding sucrose, 13% moderate, 19% low, and 52% very low. Nurses who received training on sucrose use and nurses who read or heard about sucrose predicted the use of sucrose.

Conclusion

Nurses' knowledge and use of sucrose were inadequate. Interventional programs are needed to enhance the nurses' knowledge regarding sucrose and its use and to enhance the utilization of sucrose as a pain management intervention in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Saudi Arabia.