Pain management in neonates: a survey of nurses and doctors

Intertemporal Improvement in Physicians' Perceptions of the Short-Term Adverse Outcomes of Neonatal Pain: Results of a Two-Time-Point National Survey

Pain in early life may seriously impact neonatal outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate whether the perceptions of physicians working in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) of the short-term adverse outcomes associated with neonatal pain have changed over a 20-year period. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 117 and 145 neonatologists, pediatricians, and fellows working in level III NICUs in 2000 (T1) and 2019 (T2), respectively. The questionnaire consisted of four domains, including the central nervous, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems, as well as "other systems" (metabolic/endocrine system, growth, and general condition), with 21 total items overall. Although the proportion of positive (correct) responses to the total and system-specific domain scores was significantly higher at T2 than T1, the knowledge of certain short-term adverse outcomes was suboptimal even at T2. Adjustment for cofactors confirmed the independent association of the survey time-point with the total and system-specific domain scores. Moreover, NICU type was an independent significant factor associated with the adjusted total and central nervous system scores, while young doctors had a better knowledge of adverse cardiovascular effects. Conclusions: The perceptions of NICU physicians concerning the short-term outcomes associated with neonatal pain have significantly improved over the past 20 years, although remaining knowledge gaps mandate ongoing efforts to achieve an improvement in neonatal care.

Global cross-sectional survey on neonatal pharmacologic sedation and analgesia practices and pain assessment tools: impact of the sociodemographic index (SDI)

BACKGROUND

There is variability in the use of sedatives and analgesics in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). We aimed to investigate the use of analgesics and sedatives and the management of neonatal pain and distress.

METHODS

This was a global, prospective, cross-sectional study. A survey was distributed May-November 2022. The primary outcome of this research was to compare results between countries depending on their socio-sanitary level using the sociodemographic index (SDI). We organized results based on geographical location.

RESULTS

The survey collected 1304 responses, but we analyzed 924 responses after database cleaning. Responses from 98 different countries were analyzed. More than 60% of NICUs reported having an analgosedation guideline, and one-third of respondents used neonatal pain scales in more than 80% of neonates. We found differences in the management of sedation and analgesia between NICUs on different continents, but especially between countries with different SDIs. Countries with a higher SDI had greater availability of and adherence to analgosedation guidelines, as well as higher rates of analgosedation for painful or distressing procedures. Countries with different SDIs reported differences in analgosedation for neonatal intubation, invasive ventilation, and therapeutic hypothermia, among others.

CONCLUSIONS

Socio-economic status of countries impacts on neonatal analgosedation management.

IMPACT

There is significant variability in the pain management practices in neonates. There is a lack of knowledge related to how neonatal pain management practices differ between regions. Sociodemographic index is a key factor associated with differences in neonatal pain management practices across global regions.

Existence and perceived application of pain management protocols in German neonatal intensive care units

We explored the existence and application of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for pain management (PM) in German neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), and identified the factors associated with their application in practice. This study was part of the Safety4NICU project, a cross-sectional survey conducted from 2015 to 2016. All 224 German NICUs were invited to participate, providing written consent from the head neonatologist and head nurse. We distributed questionnaires to the head neonatologist, the head nurse, and the NICU staff (physicians and nurses). We asked the head neonatologist whether written SOPs for PM existed, and we asked the staff whether these SOPs were applied in their daily routine. We received evaluable responses from 468 physicians and 1251 nurses from 76 NICUs. Of these 76 NICUs, the head neonatologists from 54 NICUs (71.1%) reported that written SOPs for PM exist. However, only 48.5% of the physicians and 53.7% of the nurses declared that these existing SOPs were also applied. We found various predictors for the existing SOPs as being applied, depending on the profession. For physicians, clinical training was important (OR: 2.482, p ≤ 0.05), while for nurses their working experience was a decisive predictor (OR: 1.265, p ≤ 0.05). For both, a high level of perceived cooperative norms between physicians and nurses increased the probability that SOPs for PM were applied, whereas a high bed turnover rate decreased that probability. According to the responses from head neonatologists, written SOPs for PM were common in German NICUs. However, if management strategies on pain existed, this did not mean that these were directly applied in the daily routine. Clinical training of the staff, the promotion of adequate interprofessional cooperation, as well as allowing time to deal with these SOPs might be all essential measures to strengthen the application.

Child and adolescent psychiatry staff's knowledge on pain management

OBJECTIVE

To assess the level of child and adolescent psychiatric staff's knowledge regarding pain management, to determine group differences between the medically more educated (physicians, nurses) and the less educated (psychologists, educators, special therapists) and to investigate the influence of gender, age, or professional experience as well as staff's own pain experiences.

METHODS

A total of 193 staff members from different professional backgrounds from three independent child and adolescent psychiatry clinics in Northern Germany were tested using the German version of the Pediatric Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain Shriner's revision (PNKAS-Sr).

RESULTS

In total, the staff scored correctly 66% of the inventory questions. There was no difference between medically more educated and less educated staff members regarding the knowledge of pain management. The main factors influencing PNKAS score were age, profession, and pain education training.

CONCLUSIONS

Although chronic pain is not one of the main aspects of continuing education in child and adolescent psychiatry, the resulting level of knowledge was comparable to results of similar surveys with paediatric staffs. Nevertheless, further education is needed to enhance knowledge and understanding of children's pain in child psychiatry staff in order to professionally treat patients with chronic somatic and mental illnesses.

Nurses' Perception of Preterm Infants' Pain and the Factors of Their Pain Assessment and Management

In the neonatal intensive care unit, preterm infants undergo many painful procedures. Although these can impair their neurodevelopment if not properly managed, only half of the painful procedures are optimally handled. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate nurses' perceptions of preterm infants' pain, to evaluate nurses' pain assessment and management practices, as well as to identify the individual and contextual factors that influence nurses' assessments and interventions for pain management. Secondary analyses, including a mixed-model analysis, were performed with data from a larger study (n = 202 nurses). Nurses were found to have attitudes and perceptions in favor of preterm infants' pain management, although they reported using few standardized instruments to assess pain. Nurses stated that they widely used sucrose, non-nutritive sucking, and positioning as pain management interventions, while skin-to-skin contact was rarely practiced. Nurses' attitudes and perceptions influenced their pain assessment practices, which predicted their implementation of interventions. Several contextual (country, level of care, and work shift) and individual factors (age, level of education, had a preterm infant, perceptions of family-centered care, and skin-to-skin contact) also predicted nurses' pain assessment and management practices.

Neonatal Nurse and Midwife Competence Regarding Pain Management in Neonates: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Neonates in need of intensive care are often subjected to numerous painful procedures. Despite the growing scientific research, hospitalized neonates continue to experience unrelieved pain. Enhancing the competence of neonatal intensive care nurses is an integral component of effective pain management.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this article is to identify and synthesize the existing evidence on nurses' and midwives' competence regarding neonatal pain management internationally.

METHODS/SEARCH STRATEGY

The review was guided by Whittemore and Knafl's 5-stage framework, with 8 databases searched in June 2020 including PubMed, CINAHL Complete (via EBSCOhost), MEDLINE (via EBSCOhost), PsycINFO (via Ovid), EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. Reference lists of selected articles were also hand-searched. Studies were reviewed independently for methodology and inclusion and exclusion criteria. The initial search yielded 3037 articles; 19 met the inclusion criteria and were included for analysis: qualitative (n = 5) and quantitative (n = 14).

FINDINGS/RESULTS

Nurses' and midwives' competence regarding neonatal pain management in the neonatal intensive care unit is discussed in relation to knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions of competence by most studies. The barriers to effective neonatal pain management were found to relate to nurses' and midwives' factors, underutilized pain assessment tools, and organizational factors. Potential facilitators to effective neonatal pain management included clear evidence-based guidelines/protocols, adequate training, and the use of appropriate and accurate pain assessment tools. Parent involvement and a team approach to neonatal pain management were also identified.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH

These findings suggest that further research is necessary to address the barriers and promote facilitators to improve neonatal pain management.

The practice of procedural pain assessment and management in neonatal intensive care unit in Ethiopia: Cross‐sectional study

Background and Aims

Neonates in intensive care units undergo frequent painful procedures for diagnostic or care‐related purposes. Untreated pain has serious short‐term and long‐term complications. This study aims to evaluate the frequency of painful procedures, pain assessment, and their analgesic management practice among neonates admitted to the NICU.

Methods

The present study is a hospital‐based cross‐sectional study of neonates admitted at level II NICU of St. Paul hospital millennium medical college in Ethiopia between March and August 2019. Data were collected from medical charts of neonates and bedside observation using a checklist. The parameters included were demographic characteristics, types of painful procedures, pain assessment practice, and analgesic intervention provided during painful procedures. Descriptive statistics, Mann‐Whitney U‐test, and Kruskal‐Wallis test were used to compare the number of painful procedures and influencing factors. P‐value < .05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Of the 325 neonates included in this study, a median of 4 (3‐7) painful procedures were performed per neonate in the first 24 hours of NICU stay. Heel lance 280 (20.7%) and Venipuncture 249 (18.41%) were the most commonly performed painful procedures. Of the 1352 painful procedures, none of the neonates received any form of analgesic intervention and none of the neonate's pain scores were documented on their medical chart. The higher number of painful procedures were associated with gestational age between 28 and 31 weeks, birth weight less than 1500 g, and use of CPAP respiratory support P‐value <.001, <.001, and .0015, respectively.

Conclusion

Painful procedures were frequently performed in NICU without any form of analgesic intervention. Strategies to introduce neonatal pain assessment and their analgesic management for clinical practice are necessary.

Level of Knowledge and Behavior of Nurses in Pain Management in Children When an Invasive Action Is Procedures

BACKGROUND: Lack of knowledge and inappropriate attitude toward pain management have been recognized as major obstacles to the application of pain management by health workers. Most of the nurses carry out pain management when performing invasive actions on children is not good. AIM: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between the level of knowledge and the behavior of nurses in pain management in children during invasive procedures. METHODS: This study used an analytic observational design with a cross-sectional engineering design with a total population of 30 nurses and a total sample of 30 nurses at RSI A. Yani Surabaya and used a total sampling technique. The independent variable in this study is the level of knowledge, while the dependent variable is the behavior of nurses when performing invasive actions on children. Data were analyzed using the Fisher Exact Test for significance α = 0.05. The data collection instrument used a questionnaire and observation sheet. RESULTS: The results showed that 23 respondents who have sufficient knowledge with 18 respondents having positive behavior and 5 respondents being negative. While 4 respondents who have good knowledge with positive behavior 3 respondents and 1 respondent behaves negatively. respondents who have less knowledge, there are 3 respondents with negative behavior. p = 0.033 (p < 0.05) then there is a knowledge relationship with the behavior of nurses on pain management in children during invasive procedures. CONCLUSION: The level of knowledge of nurses about pain management in children during invasive procedures obtained a enough level of knowledge. The nurse’s behavior level toward pain management in children during invasive procedures is positive. The results of the analysis using statistical tests showed that there was a relationship between the knowledge and behavior of nurses about pain management in children during invasive procedures.

Pediatric Critical Care Nurses' Practices Related to Sedation and Analgesia

BACKGROUND

Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) nurses may consider additional factors beyond validated tools when managing pain and sedation of children. However, these other factors and related beliefs, practices, and decision-making for analgesia and sedation have not been well described.

OBJECTIVES

This study describes nurses' beliefs, practices, and decision-making related to sedation and analgesia for mechanically ventilated children on a PICU and a pediatric cardiovascular ICU at a tertiary academic children's medical center in the United States.

METHODS

A 35-item web-based survey tool was developed to more fully identify nurses' pain, sedation, comfort, and analgesia beliefs, decisions, planning, and procedures for children who were mechanically ventilated in the ICU. It was distributed to 102 nurses in the PICU, pediatric cardiovascular ICU, and pediatric critical care float pool.

RESULTS

Twenty-six nurses (25%) responded; a majority worked the night shift and had 5 years or less of ICU experience. While participants believed intubated pediatric patients required moderate to deep sedation, approximately only half reported patients were adequately sedated. They reported that they were more likely to manage pain and sedation using specific behaviors and changes in vital signs than scores on a standardized scale. Nurses also reported routinely incorporating nonpharmacologic comfort measures. Premedication was more common for invasive procedures than for routine nursing care.

DISCUSSION

Pediatric ICU nurses in this study considered factors beyond standardized scales when evaluating and managing pain and sedation of ventilated children. Nurses prioritized children's specific behaviors, vital signs, and their own nursing judgment above standardized scales. Research is needed to describe nurses' practices beyond this small study and to define and validate additional assessment parameters to incorporate into decision-making to improve management and care outcomes.

Safety and effectiveness of parent- or nurse-controlled analgesia in neonates: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this systematic review was to determine the safety and effectiveness of parent- or nurse-controlled analgesia on neonatal patient outcomes. More specifically, the objective was to determine the effect of parent- or nurse-controlled analgesia on neonatal pain scores, analgesic use, and incidence of iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome, as well as any opioid-associated adverse events.

INTRODUCTION

Despite recent innovations in neonatology leading to significant improvements in short- and long-term outcomes for newborns requiring intensive care, optimal management of pain and distress remains a challenge for the treating multidisciplinary team. The inability of neonates to communicate pain easily, inconsistent practice among health professionals, insufficient analgesic prescriptions, and delays in medical reviews all impact effective pain management. Exploring the effect of parent- or nurse-controlled analgesia may identify a modality that negates these concerns and improves the pharmacological management of pain in newborns.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

This review considered experimental and observational studies evaluating the safety and effectiveness of parent- or nurse-controlled analgesia that included babies born at 23 weeks' gestation to four weeks post-term. The interventions considered for inclusion were any type of analgesia delivered by an infusion pump that allowed bolus dosing or a continuous analgesic infusion with bolus dosing as required. Studies using algorithms and protocols to guide timing and dosage were eligible for inclusion. Comparators included the standard management of pain for neonates in the newborn intensive care unit. A modification to the a priori protocol was made to include all neonates nursed outside of a neonatal intensive care unit to ensure all studies that examined the use of parent- or nurse-controlled analgesia in the neonatal population were included in the review.

METHODS

An extensive search of six major databases was conducted (CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science). Studies published from 1997 to 2020 in English were considered for inclusion in this review. Databases searched for unpublished studies included MedNar and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies were included in this review: two randomized controlled trials, six quasi-experimental studies, one case-control study, and five case series. There was considerable heterogeneity in the interventions and study outcome measures within the studies, resulting in an inability to statistically pool results. The small sample sizes and inability to distinguish data specific to neonates in six of the studies resulted in low quality of evidence for the safety and effectiveness of parent- or nurse-controlled analgesia in neonates. However, studies reporting neonatal data demonstrated low pain scores and a trend in reduced opioid consumption when parent- or nurse-controlled analgesia was used.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of parent- or nurse-controlled analgesia in the neonatal population has shown some effect in reducing the amount of opioid analgesia required without compromising pain relief or increasing the risk of adverse events. Due to the paucity of evidence available, certainty of the results is compromised; therefore, larger trials exploring the use of parent- or nurse-controlled analgesia in neonates and the development of nurse-led models for analgesia delivery are needed.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER

PROSPERO CRD42018114382.

Validity and reliability of the Neonatal Infant Acute Pain Assessment Scale (NIAPAS) in Turkish: prospective study

BACKGROUND

Using pain scales helps nurses in making early diagnoses and in assessing and managing pain symptoms and findings when developing a nursing care plan.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the validity and reliability of the Turkish form of the Neonatal Infant Acute Pain Assessment Scale (NIAPAS).

DESIGN AND SETTING

Prospective study conducted in Istanbul Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

METHODS

145 newborns in the 26th to 42nd gestational weeks that were receiving treatment and care in the neonatal intensive care unit were included in this study. A total of 1740 pain assessments were made by two independent observers on these 145 newborns. The research data was collected using a newborn description form, NIAPAS and the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS).

RESULTS

The scope validity index of NIAPAS was found to be between 0.90 and 1.00 and its Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.914. Correlations between characteristics and total scores (r = 0.20-0.82) were found to be sufficiently high. In an assessment on concurrency validity, there was a strong positive relationship between NIAPAS and NIPS scores (r = 0.73-0.82; P < 0.000). From kappa analysis (0.73-0.99) and intraclass correlation (r = 0.75-0.96), it was determined that there was concordance between the observers.

CONCLUSION

NIAPAS was found to be a valid and reliable scale for evaluating acute pain in newborns.

Nurses' perception, knowledge, and use of neonatal pain assessment

Preterm and sick newborn infants undergo several painful procedures during their hospital stay, potentially leading to short‐ and long‐term negative consequences. Pain assessment should be performed regularly to provide optimal pain management. Nurses' knowledge of and attitude toward neonatal pain assessment affect how pain is assessed and managed in the clinical situation. The aim of this study was to explore Swedish nurses' perception, knowledge, and use of neonatal pain assessment. This descriptive, cross‐sectional questionnaire study was conducted across all Swedish neonatal units (n = 38). Respondents were chosen through convenience sampling by the head nurses at each unit. Ten nurses from each unit were asked to complete the survey, which contained both closed and open questions. A majority of the units (30/38; 79%) participated and 232 surveys were returned, a response rate of 61%. Of the nurses, 91% thought that neonatal pain assessment was important. Many nurses mentioned various difficulties with pain assessment and concerns that the scales used might not assess pain correctly. About half of the nurses considered themselves to have enough knowledge of neonatal pain assessment. Those who reported having enough knowledge of pain assessment viewed the pain scales used at their units more positively. Of the nurses, 74% reported using a pain assessment scale several times per work shift. Pain management guidelines were available according to 75% of nurses, but only 53% reported that the guidelines were followed. Although nurses in general expressed a positive attitude toward pain assessment scales, this was not necessarily evident in their clinical practice. Lack of knowledge, available or accessible guidelines, or concerns regarding the validity of available pain scales seemed to limit their use.

French Translation, Adaptation, and Initial Validation of the Nurses' Attitudes and Perceptions of Pain Assessment in Neonatal Intensive Care Questionnaire (NAPPAQ)

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to translate, adapt and conduct initial psychometric validation of the French version of the Nurses' Attitudes and Perceptions of Pain Assessment in neonatal intensive care Questionnaire (NAPPAQ) developed by Polkki in 2010.

BACKGROUND

Assessing nurses' perceptions, attitudes and knowledge about pain management in preterm infants is important to improve neonatal practices.

METHODS

A sample of French-speaking nurses (n = 147) from Quebec and France working in neonatal intensive care was selected to validate the 46-item questionnaire. A French translation of the NAPPAQ, which includes Part I and II, was undertaken prior to its administration. The FIPM questionnaire was added as a Part III. Internal consistency and instrument structure were examined using Cronbach's alphas, inter-item and inter-scale correlations and exploratory factor analysis.

RESULTS

The NAPPAQ-FIPM is divided into three parts. Part I of the French version had a Cronbach's alpha of 0.64 and was composed of five factors. Part II had good total internal consistency (0.79) and adequate structure, established by inter-item correlations. Part III had good total internal consistency (0.76), and factor analysis findings suggested the presence of five factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The NAPPAQ-FIPM can be used for research purposes. Parts II and III obtained adequate psychometrics results. However, further refinement of Part I could improve its content and internal structure.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of neonatal professionals regarding pain management

Pain management is an important issue which impacts the prognosis of neonates in neonatal intensive care units. Evidence has shown that professionals' knowledge and attitudes regarding pain management can impact the quality of their practice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of neonatal professionals regarding neonatal pain management. A cross-sectional study was performed involving neonatal physicians and nurses, using a research questionnaire to investigate the knowledge and attitudes of professionals as well as to assess their practice of pain management. Research found an apparent discrepancy between the knowledge levels of neonatologists and nurses regarding pain assessment and management, with nurses displaying weaker professional knowledge and more negative attitudes toward pain management than did neonatologists. Additionally, research revealed a lack of knowledge and negative attitudes among participants regarding the provision of sufficient opioid analgesics to sick infants during invasive procedures and even for dying neonates. There is an urgent need for continuing education regarding neonatal pain management with the goal of empowering neonatal professionals; further research is needed into the question of how to translate education into more reliable practice.Conclusion: This research provides useful information regarding the knowledge, attitudes, and clinical practice of neonatal pain management among neonatologists and nurses and points out some differences in the knowledge levels of these two groups. What is Known: •Neonates can perceive and respond to pain stimuli by showing their biological signals similarly to children and adults. •Untreated or insufficient pain management for high-risk neonates has short-term. negative effects and may also induce long-term negative effects. What is New: •The level of knowledge, the attitudes, and the practices regarding neonatal pain in intensive care are different among neonatal professionals. •There is an urgent need to provide interdisciplinary continuing education to improve the knowledge of neonatal professionals and encourage them to more highly prioritize neonatal pain management.

Oral Sucrose for Neonatal Pain: Perception of Jordanian Nurses

BACKGROUND

Neonatal pain management using sucrose has been an established practice in Western countries. However, in the developing world, the practice is still not widely accepted. Neonatal nurses' perceptions about the neonatal pain experience and efficacy of oral sucrose may influence that decision.

PURPOSE

To investigate Jordanian neonatal nurses' perceptions about the use of oral sucrose for neonatal pain.

DESIGN AND SAMPLE

A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to collect data from 191 neonatal nurses working in 3 different hospital settings in northern and middle central Jordan.

MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLES

Knowledge and perception of Jordanian nurses about neonatal pain and oral sucrose and their relationship to demographic variables.

RESULTS

More than half of nurses had knowledge deficit about pain management. Fifty-five percent of the nurses had a positive perception toward pain assessment tools, and the majority indicated positive opinion toward oral sucrose usage. Demographic factors can impact their perceptions.

Changes in Physicians' Perceptions and Practices on Neonatal Pain Management Over the Past 20 Years. A Survey Conducted at Two Time-Points

Intense research for more than three decades expelled the view that neonates do not experience pain. The aim of this survey was to investigate whether the Greek physicians involved in neonatal intensive care have changed their perceptions regarding neonatal pain, adapting their management practices to the knowledge that have emerged in the past 20-years. This study is a survey conducted at two time-points, 20 years apart. Anonymous questionnaires were distributed to 117 and 145 physicians working in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) all over Greece in years 2000 and 2019, respectively. The response rate was 90.6 and 80.7% in 2000 and 2019, respectively. All respondents, at both time-points, believed that neonates experience pain, which has serious acute and long-term consequences, while the vast majority considered analgesia-sedation (A-S) during painful interventions as obligatory. Utilization of NICU protocols and pain assessment tools remained low although increased significantly between 2000 and 2019. The use of systemic A-S postoperatively was high at both time-points, while its implementation in infants subjected to prolonged pain, specifically mechanical ventilation, increased significantly by 2019. Systemic or local analgesia for acute procedural pain was used by lower proportions of physicians in 2019, except for the tracheal intubation. In contrast, the use of sweet solutions and non-pharmacological measures prior to or during bedside procedures significantly increased over time. Opioid administration significantly increased, while a shift from morphine to fentanyl was observed. International literature and perinatal-neonatal congresses were stated as the main sources of updating physicians' knowledge and improving management practice on neonatal pain prevention and treatment. In conclusion, Greek NICU-physicians' perceptions that neonates can experience pain with potentially serious acute and long-term consequences remained strong over the past 20 years. Although physicians' practices on neonatal pain management improved, they are still suboptimal, while significant differences exist among centers. Continuing education, globally accepted management protocols, and readily applied pain assessment tools would further improve the management of procedural pain and stress in neonates.

Evaluating Knowledge, Practices, and Barriers of Paediatric Pain Management among Nurses in a Tertiary Health Facility in the Northern Region of Ghana: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Pain is a major source of distress for children on admission, parents, and clinician. Hospitalized children continuously experience unrelieved pain; hence, the provision of effective pain management is an integral and important part of the nurse's role. Adequate knowledge and positive practices of nurses regarding pain management among children are key if optimal pain management is to be achieved among paediatric cases. However, there is a paucity of published data on paediatric management among nurses in the northern part of Ghana.

Aim

The current study, therefore, evaluated nurse's knowledge and practices and identified the barriers to paediatric pain management in the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ghana. Methodology. This was a descriptive cross-sectional facility-based study that employed a quantitative approach to data collection. A total of 180 nurses were selected conveniently from 10 selected wards of the hospital for the study. Data were collected using a questionnaire. The data were subsequently analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23.0. Logistic regression analysis was done to determine the association between the dependent and independent variables of interest.

Results

The findings revealed that the majority (61.1%) of all the nurses had an overall good knowledge of paediatric pain management while 57.8% demonstrated good practices of pain management. From the study, the most reported barriers to paediatric pain management by the nurses were insufficient knowledge in pain management (76.1%), inadequate paediatric pain assessment tools (73.9%), and inadequate staffing (72.2%). In further analysis, critical care nurses were 5.87 times more likely to engage in good practices of paediatric pain management than paediatric nurses (OR = 5.87 (95% CI : 1.07–32.00), p=0.041).

Conclusion

The majority (61.1%) of all the respondents showed good knowledge of pain management and 57.8% demonstrated good pain management practices. Despite the high knowledge and practice, factors such as insufficient knowledge in pain management (76.1%), inadequate paediatric pain assessment tools (73.9%), and inadequate nurse staffing (72.2%) affect effective pain management. Paediatric pain management should be treated as a priority, and hence more efforts should be put in place to curtail the barriers that hinder its practice.

A complex interprofessional intervention to improve the management of painful procedures in neonates

During hospitalization, neonates are exposed to a stressful environment and a high number of painful procedures. If pain is not treated adequately, short‐ and long‐term complications may develop. Despite evidence about neonatal pain and available guidelines, procedural pain remains undertreated. This gap between research and practice is mostly due to limited implementation of evidence‐based knowledge and time constraints. This study describes in detail the development process of a complex interprofessional intervention to improve the management of procedural pain in neonates called NEODOL© (NEOnato DOLore). The framework of the Medical Research Council (MRC) for the development and evaluation of complex interventions was used as a methodological guide for the design of the NEODOL© intervention. The development of the intervention is based on several steps and multiple methods. To report this process, we used the Criteria for Reporting the Development of Complex Interventions in Healthcare (CReDECI 2). Additionally, we evaluated the content of the intervention using a Delphi method to obtain consensus from experts, stakeholders, and parents. The complex interprofessional intervention, NEODOL©, is developed and designed for three groups: healthcare professionals, parents, and neonates for a level IIb neonatal unit at a regional hospital in southern Switzerland. A total of 16 panelists participated in the Delphi process. At the end of the Delphi process, the panelists endorsed the NEODOL© intervention as important and feasible. Following the MRC guidelines, a multimethod process was used to develop a complex interprofessional intervention to improve the management of painful procedures in newborns. Complex interprofessional interventions need theoretical bases, careful development, and integration of stakeholders to provide a comprehensive approach. The NEODOL intervention consists of promising components and has the potential to improve the management of painful procedures and should facilitate the knowledge translation into practice.

Quantification of neonatal procedural pain severity: a platform for estimating total pain burden in individual infants

There is increasing evidence that long-term outcomes for infants born prematurely are adversely affected by repeated exposure to noxious procedures. These interventions vary widely, for example, in the extent of damage caused and duration. Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) procedures are therefore likely to each contribute differently to the overall pain burden of individual neonates, ultimately having a different impact on their development. For researchers to quantify the procedural pain burden experienced by infants on NICU, we aimed to estimate the pain severity of common NICU procedures using published pain scores. We extracted pain scores over the first minute (pain reactivity) from the literature, using 59 randomized controlled trials for 15 different procedures. Hierarchical cluster analysis of average pain scores resulted in 5 discrete severity groups; mild (n = 1), mild to moderate (n = 3), moderate (n = 7), severe (n = 3), and very severe (n = 1). The estimate of the severity of individual procedures provided new insight into infant pain reactivity which is not always directly related to the invasiveness and duration of a procedure; thus, both heel lance and skin tape removal are moderately painful procedures. This estimate of procedural pain severity, based on pain reactivity scores, provides a novel platform for retrospective quantification of an individual neonate's pain burden due to NICU procedures. The addition of measures that reflect the recovery from each procedure, such as brain activity and behavioural regulation, would further improve estimates of the pain burden of neonatal intensive care.

Pain Assessment and Management in Neonatal Intensive Care Units in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia: A Survey of Doctors and Nurses

BACKGROUND

Despite its importance, no study from the Middle East has assessed the neonatal pain knowledge of health-care providers in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of pediatricians and nurses in Saudi Arabia toward procedural pain assessment and its management in neonates.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study was conducted between March and June 2015 at three NICUs in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, namely, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al Khobar; Security Forces Hospital, Dammam; and King Fahd Medical Military Complex, Dhahran. All pediatricians/neonatologists and nurses in these units were included, and a previously validated questionnaire was distributed and collected by an assigned clinician. The questionnaire elicited pain-related knowledge of seven procedures using a 10-point Likert scale.

RESULTS

A total of 150 questionnaires were distributed, from which 107 complete responses were obtained (nurses: 81 [75.7%]; doctors: 26 [24.3%]). The overall knowledge scores were high (mean ± standard deviation = 77.3% ±11.6%). The mean pain rankings of doctors (7.2) were higher than those of nurses (6.5) for all procedures. Nurses reported more frequent use of analgesia than doctors (15.4% vs. 11.5%). Doctors often did not use comfort measures for any procedures, except during procedures on term to 28-day-old neonates. The use of pain tools was reported by only 12 (11%) clinicians.

CONCLUSION

This study found that despite adequate knowledge about pain perception by neonates, the use of analgesia for procedural pain relief is low among doctors in the NICUs of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. In addition, there is underutilization of pain assessment tools, thereby indicating the need to address this knowledge-practice gap.

Painful and stressful procedures and analgesia in newborns from the viewpoint of professionals

OBJECTIVE

To identify the procedures considered painful and stressful by health professionals from a neonatal intensive care unit and check the measures of analgesia.

METHOD

Descriptive exploratory quantitative study with 65 health professionals, from November 2016 to February 2017.

RESULTS

The procedures considered painful were removal of adhesives, vein, arterial and lumbar puncture, phlebotomy, and thoracic drainage. Oral suctioning, intravenous catheter removal and tracheal extubation were considered stressful. Fentanyl was the most cited pharmacological measure, and restraint and nonnutritive suction were the most used nonpharmacological measures.

CONCLUSION

Professionals were able to classify the painful and stressful procedures; however, low use of measures for analgesia was evidenced.

Assessment of Pain in the Newborn: An Update

Preterm and term neonate pain assessment in neonatal intensive care units is vitally important because of the prevalence of procedural and postoperative pain. Of the 40 plus tools available, a few should be chosen for different populations and contexts (2 have been validated in premature infants). Preterm neonates do not display pain behaviors and physiologic indicators as reliably and specifically as full-term infants, and are vulnerable to long-term sequelae of painful experiences. Brain-oriented approaches may become available in the future; meanwhile, neonatal pain assessment tools must be taught, implemented, and their use optimized for consistent, reproducible, safe, and effective treatment.

What do Neonatal Nurses Know and Feel About Pain Management During Retinopathy of Prematurity Examination: A Qualitative Research

Aim

The purpose of this study was to determine feelings, pain-related knowledge, and pain management-related practices of neonatal intensive care nurses during the retinopathy of prematurity examination.

Method

The descriptive qualitative research design was used. In the study, the individual in-depth interviews were conducted with nurses by using the interview form with semi-structured open-ended questions. The data were evaluated by using the MAXQDA12.

Results

Two main themes were formed as “neonatal pain” and “retinopathy of prematurity examination” in line with the thematic analysis. In the study, it was determined that the nurses were able to limitedly identify the pain-induced physiological and behavioral symptoms in newborns, could not evaluate the symptoms and levels of pain by using pain scales with proven validity and reliability. The results indicated that the nurses provided the care based on their observations rather than evidence-based knowledge in the pain management.

Conclusion

Nurses should be informed through evidence-based training programs and supported to transfer the acquired knowledge into practice. And the results emphasizes that the subject of pain and pain management should be inserted in nursing education cirruculum.

Neonatal Pain: Perceptions and Current Practice

Neonates may experience more than 300 painful procedures throughout their hospitalizations. Prior to 1980, there was a longstanding misconception that neonates do not experience pain. Current studies demonstrate that not only do neonates experience pain but also, due to their immature nervous systems, they are hypersensitive to painful stimuli. Poorly treated pain may lead to negative long-term consequences. Proper assessment of neonate pain is vital. The use of nonpharmacologic treatments may be beneficial in alleviating neonate pain. Pharmacologic treatments in the neonate have been well established. Pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions can be used in conjunction to increase the efficacy of analgesia.

Neonatal pain: Knowledge and perception among pediatric doctors in Malaysia

BACKGROUND

Inadequate pain management is linked to potential neurodevelopmental and behavioral problems. Sufficient knowledge in neonatal pain is required to facilitate optimal pain management. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the knowledge and perception of pain experienced by neonates requiring intensive care among pediatric doctors working in a level III neonatal intensive care unit in Malaysian hospitals.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study conducted over a period of 18 months. A self-administered questionnaire assessing knowledge and perception regarding neonatal pain was used.

RESULTS

Twenty-four hospitals participated in the study, with 423 respondents. The response rate was 85%. One hundred and ninety-seven respondents (47%) were aware of tools for neonatal pain assessment, but only 6% used them in daily practice. Doctors with >4 years of experience in neonatal care had better awareness of available pain assessment tools (59.4% vs 40.9%, P = 0.001). Sixteen statements regarding knowledge were assessed. Mean score obtained was 10.5 ± 2.5. Consultants/specialists obtained a higher mean score than medical officers (11.9 vs 10.4, P < 0.001). More than 80% of respondents were able to discriminate painful from non-painful procedures.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians involved in neonatal care, especially those with longer experience were knowledgeable about neonatal pain. Gaps between knowledge and its application, however, remain. Implementation of clinical guidelines to improve the quality of assessment and adequate pain management in neonates is recommended.

Safety and effectiveness of parent/nurse controlled analgesia on patient outcomes in the neonatal intensive care unit: a systematic review protocol

REVIEW QUESTION

The review question is: How safe is parent/nurse controlled analgesia and what is its effectiveness on patient outcomes in the neonatal intensive care unit?

Evaluation of three pain assessment scales used for ventilated neonates

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To compare and evaluate the reliability, validity, feasibility, clinical utility, and nurses' preference of the Premature Infant Pain Profile-Revised, the Neonatal Pain, Agitation, and Sedation Scale, and the Neonatal Infant Acute Pain Assessment Scale used for procedural pain in ventilated neonates.

BACKGROUND

Procedural pain is a common phenomenon but is undermanaged and underassessed in hospitalised neonates. Information for clinician selecting pain measurements to improve neonatal care and outcomes is still limited.

DESIGN

A prospective observational study was used.

METHODS

A total of 1,080 pain assessments were made at 90 neonates by two nurses independently, using three scales viewing three phases of videotaped painful (arterial blood sampling) and nonpainful procedures (diaper change). Internal consistency, inter-rater reliability, discriminant validity, concurrent validity and convergent validity of scales were analysed. Feasibility, clinical utility and nurses' preference of scales were also investigated.

RESULTS

All three scales showed excellent inter-rater coefficients (from 0.991-0.992) and good internal consistency (0.733 for the Premature Infant Pain Profile-Revised, 0.837 for the Neonatal Pain, Agitation, and Sedation Scale and 0.836 for the Neonatal Infant Acute Pain Assessment Scale, respectively). Scores of painful and nonpainful procedures on the three scales changed significantly across the phases. There was a strong correlation between the three scales with adequate limits of agreement. The mean scores of the Neonatal Pain, Agitation, and Sedation Scale for feasibility and utility were significantly higher than those of the Neonatal Infant Acute Pain Assessment Scale, but not significantly higher than those of the Premature Infant Pain Profile-Revised. The Neonatal Pain, Agitation, and Sedation Scale was mostly preferred by 55.9% of the nurses, followed by the Neonatal Infant Acute Pain Assessment Scale (23.5%) and the Premature Infant Pain Profile-Revised (20.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

The three scales are all reliable and valid, but the Neonatal Pain, Agitation, and Sedation Scale and the Neonatal Infant Acute Pain Assessment Scale perform better in reliability. The Neonatal Pain, Agitation, and Sedation Scale appears to be a better choice for frontier nurses to assess procedural pain in ventilated neonates based on its good feasibility, utility and nurses' preference.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Choosing a valid, reliable, feasible and practical measurement is the key step for better management of procedural pain for ventilated newborns. Using the right and suitable tool is helpful to accurately identify pain, ultimately improve the neonatal care and outcomes.

The experiences of acute non-surgical pain of children who present to a healthcare facility for treatment: a systematic review protocol

REVIEW QUESTION/OBJECTIVE

The qualitative objective of this systematic review is to identify and synthesize the best available evidence on experiences of acute non-surgical pain, including pain management, of children (between four to 18 years) when they present to a healthcare facility for treatment.The specific objectives are to identify:

BACKGROUND

The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage". The pain experience is multifaceted and complex, extending beyond the physiological interpretation of a noxious stimulus, encompassing other dimensions, including; psychological, cognitive, sociocultural, affective and emotional factors. Pain can be described as chronic (persisting for three months or more) or acute (a time limited response to a noxious stimuli). Over the past 50 years clinical research has made revolutionary contributions to better understanding pediatric pain. The once pervasive erroneous notion that infants do not experience pain the same way as adults has been firmly dispelled. We now know that nervous system structures associated with the physiological interpretation of pain are functional as early as fetal development. Despite this critical knowledge and the growing global commitment to improving pediatric pain management in clinical practice, evidence repeatedly suggests that pain management remains suboptimal and inconsistent, a phenomenon commonly referred to as oligoanalgesia. Research evidence has linked poorly managed pain in the pediatric population to negative behavioral and physiological consequences later in life. Effective pain management is therefore a priority area for health care professionals. Improved understanding of children's experiences of acute non-surgical pain may lead to improved pain management and a reduction in oligoanalgesia.In the 1970s and 1980s, studies began exploring the subjective experiences of pediatric pain and discovered children's abilities to articulate their pain experiences, and to link causes and consequences of their pain. Developmental trends or age related patterns with regards to children's expressions and experiences of pain were identified. Recent studies have also recognized apparent trends in children's understanding and expressions of pain; these follow an age and cognitive development trajectory in line with Piaget's theories of development.For many children psychosocial aspects of pain, including emotions like fear, stress and anxiety, are often more unpleasant than the painful experience itself. Emotional responses such as distress and anxiety are commonly associated with the anticipation of pain, can exacerbate and intensify the pain experience, and can significantly lower a child's pain threshold. One study utilized an observational pain assessment tool to explore children's pain experiences. The findings indicated that children who underwent "non-painful" procedures (such as restraint) had equal, and in some cases higher, pain scores than those who underwent painful procedures (such as intravenous cannulation).Several studies exploring pediatric pain within health care settings (including, but not limited to, general practitioners, hospitals, emergency departments and outpatient clinics) have adopted quantitative methods, some examined parents' perspectives, and others explored nurses' perceptions. While results of such studies have added to the existing body of knowledge that supports the need to focus on improving pediatric pain management, it has been suggested that failing to ask children directly risks not capturing subjective experiences of pain from the children's perspectives in their entirety. Seeking the children's perspectives could provide a more reliable and adequate means of gaining insight into their needs and expectations when they are in pain.A single centered study in Singapore used semi-structured face-to-face interviews (n=15) to explore children's experiences of pain management postoperatively. While the children, aged between six and 12 years, identified the role of analgesia in managing their pain, they also placed significant emphasis on the role of parents and health care professionals in implementing non-pharmacological interventions in pain management. These results are relevant as they provide insights into how children experience and express pain, and their expectations of health care professionals in managing their pain. These findings draw attention to effective pain management approaches when caring for children. Similarly, a UK study adopted a cross sectional descriptive design using the draw and write technique aimed at investigating children's views on what helped when they were in pain. The children (n=71) were aged between four and 16 years. Findings revealed that children viewed themselves as active agents in pain management, while also placing significant emphasis on the importance of parents and nurses in managing their pain. In both studies, children valued nurses for social interactions, such as kindness and humor, rather than the provision of clinical care, including analgesia administration. Adjunct therapies such as distraction, visualization and music have also been shown to be effective in managing the pain experience in children.Not only do these findings demonstrate the complexity of the pain experience for the child, they also support the notion that improved pain management may come from research that is designed to better understand the entire pain experience from the child's perspective. While there are systematic reviews on interventions for managing children's pain, and one explored children's experiences in the postoperative context, none have considered children's experiences of acute non-surgical pain when they present for treatment. This qualitative systematic review aims to identify and synthesize results of studies exploring children's experiences of pain and pain management.

Pain assessment practices in Swedish and Norwegian neonatal care units

BACKGROUND

The use of measurement scales to assess pain in neonates is considered a prerequisite for effective management of pain, but these scales are still underutilised in clinical practice.

AIM

The aim of this study was to describe and compare pain assessment practices including the use of pain measurement scales in Norwegian and Swedish neonatal care units.

METHODS

A unit survey investigating practices regarding pain assessment and the use of pain measurement scales was sent to all neonatal units in Sweden and Norway (n = 55). All Norwegian and 92% of Swedish units responded.

RESULTS

A majority of the participating units (86.5%) assessed pain. Swedish units assessed and documented pain and used pain measurement scales more frequently than Norwegian units. The most frequently used scales were different versions of Astrid Lindgren's Pain Scale (ALPS) in Sweden and Echelle Douleur Inconfort Noveau-Ne (EDIN), ALPS and Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) in Norway. Norwegian head nurses had more confidence in their pain assessment method and found the use of pain measurement scales more important than their Swedish colleagues.

CONCLUSION

The persisting difference between Swedish and Norwegian units in pain assessment and the use of pain measurement scales are not easily explained. However, the reported increased availability and reported use of pain measurement scales in neonatal care units in both countries may be seen as a contribution towards better awareness and recognition of pain, better pain management and potentially less suffering for vulnerable neonates.

Knowledge of healthcare professionals on the evaluation and treatment of neonatal pain

OBJECTIVE

to identify knowledge of healthcare professionals on the management, evaluation and treatment of pain in a neonatal unit in a municipality of Rio de Janeiro.

METHOD

descriptive, exploratory study with quantitative analysis. Data were analyzed using the software R. Core Team Results: of the 96 healthcare professionals who participated in the study, 42 nursing aides/technicians responded, along with 22 nurses, 20 physicians and 2 physical therapists. The results showed that 40.5% of the nursing aides/technicians, 50% of the physicians and 50% of the physical therapists confirmed that they coordinate/perform/assist in the care of babies' pain while performing procedures (lumbar puncture, chest tube insertion and central line). There was a significant difference of agreement in relation to the nursing aides/technicians and physicians. Most (69.8%) of the healthcare professionals knew of some non-pharmacological measure effective for relief of acute pain.

CONCLUSION

there is a need for an educational intervention program, with participation of those involved, in the process to change professional practice.

Nurses' perceptions of pain assessment and management practices in neonates: a cross-sectional survey

AIMS

This study aimed to describe pain assessment and management practices for neonates based on nurses' perceptions in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

DESIGN

A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in Finland.

METHODS

Of all nurses (N = 422) working in the NICUs in the country's five university hospitals, 294 responded to a questionnaire. The data were analysed by statistical methods.

RESULTS

Nurses agreed that pain assessment is important, but over half of them reported being able to assess pain in a reliable way without using pain assessment scales. Physiological parameters and changes in neonate's behaviour were reported as routinely observed, but many specific facial expressions indicative of pain were less often observed. Only a few pain assessment scales were known, and they were not routinely used in clinical practice. Most nurses reported using physical methods and giving oral sucrose along with non-nutritive sucking. Counselling parents to continue breastfeeding or guiding them to use skin-to-skin care or music was rarely reported as used to alleviate infants' pain.

CONCLUSIONS

Educational interventions for nurses are needed to improve pain assessment and management practices in the NICUs. In addition, there is a need for national guidelines in order to ensure the equal treatment to all neonates.

Acupuncture in the neonatal intensive care unit-using ancient medicine to help today's babies: a review

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years in Eastern medicine for a variety of conditions and illnesses, including pain. Neonatal intensive care, on the other hand, is a relatively new branch of medicine that has emerged as the pivotal influence in increasing survival of critically ill newborn infants only within the last 50 years. Unfortunately, pain is an inevitable part of treatment in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The control and prevention of pain remains a major issue for clinicians despite recognition and understanding of the myriad of short- and long-term problems that are associated with both pain and its treatment within the NICU environment. In this review, we examine the potential role of acupuncture to decrease and treat pain in babies requiring neonatal intensive care and discuss future therapeutic and research implications for the use of this ancient therapy within the modern environment of the NICU.

Experiences of acute pain in children who present to a healthcare facility for treatment: a systematic review of qualitative evidence

BACKGROUND

Pain is a universal and complex phenomenon that is personal, subjective and specific. Despite growing knowledge in pediatric pain, management of children's pain remains sub-optimal and is linked to negative behavioral and physiological consequences later in life. As there is no synthesis of these studies, it was timely to undertake a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES

To identify, evaluate and synthesize the existing qualitative evidence on children's experiences of acute pain, including pain management, within a healthcare facility.

INCLUSION CRITERIA TYPES OF PARTICIPANTS

Children aged four to 18 years (inclusive) attending a healthcare facility who experienced acute pain associated with any injury, medical condition or treatment.

PHENOMENA OF INTEREST

Children's experiences and perceptions of their acute pain, pain management and expectations of others in managing their pain. Studies on children's experiences of pain in the postoperative context were excluded as a systematic review exploring this phenomenon had previously been published. Studies reporting on children's experiences of chronic pain were also excluded.

CONTEXT

Any healthcare facility including general practitioners' surgeries, hospitals, emergency departments and outpatient clinics.

TYPES OF STUDIES

Qualitative studies including phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, action research and feminist research designs.

SEARCH STRATEGY

Using a three-step search strategy, databases were searched in December 2015 to identify both published and unpublished articles from 2000 to 2015. Studies published in languages other than English were excluded.

METHODOLOGICAL QUALITY

All studies that met the inclusion criteria were assessed by at least two independent reviewers for methodological quality using a standardized critical appraisal tool from the Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI-QARI).

DATA EXTRACTION

Data were extracted from the papers included in the review using standardized data extraction tool from JBI-QARI.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Findings were pooled using JBI-QARI. Findings were rated according to their level of credibility and categorized based on similarity in meaning and then were subjected to a meta-synthesis.

RESULTS

Four studies were included in this review. Two meta-syntheses were generated from five categories based on 21 findings: first, children can express their pain experiences in terms of cause, location, meaning and quality. Children's pain experiences include both physical and psychological dimensions. Children's pain experiences are influenced by their previous pain experiences, pain expectations and sociocultural factors. Second, children use a range of cognitive/behavioral and sensory/physical self-soothing strategies not only to help manage their pain, but also rely on the actions and presence of others as helpers when they are in pain.

CONCLUSION

Children's pain is a multi-dimensional complex phenomenon relying upon a multi-modal approach to management. Children as young as four years are capable of articulating their pain in terms of location, intensity and depth. The way children perceive, express and respond to pain is shaped by sociocultural factors, previous pain experiences and their expectations of pain. Children, parents and healthcare professionals play an important role in managing children's pain experiences.

Factors Affecting Korean Neonatal Infant Pain Care: Translation and Validation of Three Instruments

This study aimed to translate three English-language instruments-Pain Knowledge and Use (PKU), Collaboration and Satisfaction About Care Decisions (CSACD), and Environmental Complexity Scale (ECS)-into Korean and evaluate the equivalence of the instrument versions. Three Korean translators and two senior reviewers translated the instruments' 56 items using a committee approach. Eight Korean experts evaluated the cultural relevance of the translated instruments using a content validity index (CVI), and 12 Korean neonatal nurses were interviewed to assess their understanding of items. In an expert panel review, the item-CVI was less than 0.78 for 14 items. Based on cognitive interviews, four items were found to be unsuitable in Korea. Based on expert panel review and cognitive interviews, unsuitable items were modified or deleted. In another expert panel review, the scale-CVI was 1.00 for the final instruments. The findings support the validity of the Korean-language PKU, CSACD, and ECS for research application.

The Validity and Clinical Utility of the COVERS Scale and Pain Assessment Tool for Assessing Pain in Neonates Admitted to an Intensive Care Unit

OBJECTIVES

Infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are routinely subject to a range of painful procedures. However, pain assessments in NICUs are under-utilized due to a lack of a gold standard pain measure. In this study we assessed the psychometric properties and clinical utility of the COVERS and Pain Assessment Tool (PAT), in a neonatal unit.

METHODS

We had 72 nurses use the scales to assess pain at baseline and during a heel-lance procedure in 80 NICU infants. An independent research observer and the infant's mother also completed pain ratings. After the study, we assessed nurse preference and clinical utility ratings for both scales.

RESULTS

The COVERS had satisfactory internal consistency at baseline (Cronbach α=0.74) and heel lance (α=0.78), as did the PAT (baseline α=0.79, heel lance α=0.85). Intraclass correlation coefficients demonstrated good inter-rater reliability at baseline and heel lance, respectively, for both the COVERS (0.82 and 0.80) and the PAT (0.83 and 0.86). There were strong associations between total scores on the 2 scales at baseline (r=0.81, P<0.001) and heel lance (r=0.91, P<0.001), between researcher's ratings and total COVERS (ρ=0.75, P<0.001) and PAT scores (ρ=0.69, P<0.001), and between maternal ratings and total COVERS (r=0.74, P<0.05) and PAT scores (r=0.65, P<0.05). Both scales were sensitive to pain and nonpain events. Reliability and validity was mostly upheld across gestational age. Most nurses preferred the COVERS (52%) to the PAT (16%), and 32% had no preference.

DISCUSSION

This study builds on evidence for the COVERS scale and the PAT; both scales were reliable and valid measures of acute pain in neonates as premature as 24-week gestational age.

Status of Neonatal Pain Assessment and Management in Jordan

Current pain assessment and management in neonates need to be fully described before neonatal pain care can be optimized. This study's purpose was to report neonatal nurses' knowledge, existing pain assessment practice, and pharmacological pain management of neonates in Jordan. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. Eighteen neonatal intensive care units in Jordan were included in the study. One hundred eighty-four neonatal nurses participated. Questionnaires were distributed by and returned to the neonatal intensive care units' managers between June and August 2014. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to present study results. Of 240 questionnaires distributed, 184 useable responses were returned. Nurses' knowledge regarding neonates' neurological development, nociception, and need for neonatal pain management was suboptimal. The analgesics most commonly used to treat neonatal pain were acetaminophen (52%) and lidocaine (45%). Benzodiazepines, phenobarbitone, and muscles relaxants were also used. Most nurses (54%-97%) reported that pain emanating from most painful procedures was never or rarely treated. Circumcision, lumbar punctures, and chest tube insertion were assigned the highest pain scores (≥9), but were rarely accompanied by analgesia. Pain assessment scales were more likely to be used, and procedural pain was more likely to be treated, in private hospitals than public hospitals. Neonates who require special care still suffer unnecessary pain that could be avoided and managed by following best practice recommendations. Disparities between developed and developing countries in quality of neonatal pain care appear to exist. Resources for education and routine care are needed to address these discrepancies.

Painful procedures and analgesia in the NICU: what has changed in the medical perception and practice in a ten-year period?

OBJECTIVE

To compare the use of analgesia versus neonatologists' perception regarding analgesic use in painful procedures in the years 2001, 2006, and 2011.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study of all newborns admitted to four university neonatal intensive care units during one month in 2001, 2006, and 2011. The frequency of analgesic prescription for painful procedures was evaluated. Of the 202 neonatologists, 188 answered a questionnaire giving their opinion on the intensity of pain during lumbar puncture, tracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, and postoperative period using a 10-cm visual analogic scale (VAS; pain >3cm).

RESULTS

For lumbar puncture, 12% (2001), 43% (2006), and 36% (2011) were performed using analgesia. Among the neonatologists, 40-50% reported VAS >3 for lumbar puncture in all study periods. For intubation, 30% received analgesia in the study periods, and 35% (2001), 55% (2006), and 73% (2011) of the neonatologists reported VAS >3 and would prescribe analgesia for this procedure. As for mechanical ventilation, 45% (2001), 64% (2006), and 48% (2011) of patient-days were under analgesia; 56% (2001), 57% (2006), and 26% (2011) of neonatologists reported VAS >3 and said they would use analgesia during mechanical ventilation. For the first three post-operative days, 37% (2001), 78% (2006), and 89% (2011) of the patients received analgesia and more than 90% of neonatologists reported VAS >3 for major surgeries.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite an increase in the medical perception of neonatal pain and in analgesic use during painful procedures, the gap between clinical practice and neonatologist perception of analgesia need did not change during the ten-year period.

[Sedation and analgesia practices among Spanish neonatal intensive care units]

INTRODUCTION

Pain management and sedation is a priority in neonatal intensive care units. A study was designed with the aim of determining current clinical practice as regards sedation and analgesia in neonatal intensive care units in Spain, as well as to identify factors associated with the use of sedative and analgesic drugs.

METHOD

A multicenter, observational, longitudinal and prospective study.

RESULTS

Thirty neonatal units participated and included 468 neonates. Of these, 198 (42,3%) received sedatives or analgesics. A total of 19 different drugs were used during the study period, and the most used was fentanyl. Only fentanyl, midazolam, morphine and paracetamol were used in at least 20% of the neonates who received sedatives and/or analgesics. In infusions, 14 different drug prescriptions were used, with the most frequent being fentanyl and the combination of fentanyl and midazolam. The variables associated with receiving sedation and/or analgesia were, to have required invasive ventilation (P<.001; OR=23.79), a CRIB score >3 (P=.023; OR=2.26), the existence of pain evaluation guides in the unit (P<.001; OR=3.82), and a pain leader (P=.034; OR=2.35).

CONCLUSIONS

Almost half of the neonates admitted to intensive care units receive sedatives or analgesics. There is significant variation between Spanish neonatal units as regards sedation and analgesia prescribing. Our results provide evidence on the "state of the art", and could serve as the basis of preparing clinical practice guidelines at a national level.

Should we assess pain in newborn infants using a scoring system or just a detection method?

Newborn infants' pain should be scored indirectly using dedicated pain scales. Unfortunately, while some scales for prolonged pain have given good results, a gold standard to assess acute pain does not exist. Acute pain scales still have weak points, most are complex and are scarcely used in neonatal departments. Moreover, carefully scoring pain in clinical practice seems redundant, because any avoidable pain is a concern. This suggests that researchers must find new ways to assess acute pain. A possible approach is to settle for pain detection instead of pain scoring in selected cases. Here, we describe a two-point method that illustrates this approach.

CONCLUSION

For everyday practice, detecting pain is more useful than scoring it; acute pain scales should be reserved for research, for those clinical settings where the personnel has received a careful training and where overcrowding and hurry are absent.

Pain assessment and measurement in neonates: an updated review

Pain assessment and measurement are the cornerstones of pain management. Pain assessment connotes a comprehensive multidimensional description. Conversely, pain measurement provides a numeric quantitative description of each factor illustrating pain qualities. Pain scales provide a composite score used to guide practice and research. The type of infant pain instrument chosen is a significant factor in guiding pain management practice. The purpose of this review was to summarize current infant pain measures by introducing a conceptual framework for pain measurement. Although more than 40 infant pain instruments exist, many were devised solely for research purposes; several of the newly developed instruments largely overlap with existing instruments. Integration of pain management into daily practice remains problematic. Understanding how each instrument measures infant pain allows clinicians to make better decisions about what instrument to use with which infant and in what circumstances. In addition, novel new measurement techniques need further testing.

Neonatal nurses' perceptions of pain assessment and management in NICUs: a national survey

PURPOSE

The purpose of this survey was to investigate neonatal nurses' perceptions of knowledge and practice in pain assessment and management.

METHODS

A convenience sample consisted of 237 neonatal nurses with a membership in National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) and neonatal nurses in Connecticut who were not NANN members. A researcher-developed questionnaire, including 36 questions with Likert scale and 2 open-ended questions, was used.

RESULTS

The nurses were knowledgeable, and about 50% felt that they received adequate training and continuing education on pain. Participants reported the use of pain assessment tools (81%) and felt confident in uses of pharmacologic (83%) and nonpharmacologic interventions (79%). More than half felt that the pain tool used in their unit was appropriate for neonates (65%) and was an accurate measure (60%). Fewer than half reported that pain was well managed (44%) and that their pain protocols were research evidence based (43%).

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses' perceptions of well-managed pain were significantly correlated with training, use of appropriate and accurate pain tools, and clear and research-based protocols. Barriers to effective pain management emerged as resistance to change, lack of knowledge, perceived fear of side effects of pain medication and incorrect interpretation of pain signals, lack of time, and lack of trust in the pain assessment tools. Gaps exist in knowledge, evidence, and practice in neonatal assessment and management.