Trends in Prescription Chronic Pain Medication Use before and during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Québec, Canada: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis

BACKGROUND

In Canada, a state of health emergency was declared in May 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess trends in the use of prescription medication for pain management by people living with chronic pain before and during the first wave of the pandemic.

METHODS

Participants (n = 177) were adults reporting chronic pain who had completed a web-based questionnaire in 2019 and for whom complete longitudinal private and public insurance prescription claims were available. The monthly prevalence of medication use for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, and prescribed cannabinoids was assessed. An interrupted time series analysis was then performed to evaluate if the COVID-19 pandemic had had an impact on trends in pain medication use.

RESULTS

The beginning of the first wave of the pandemic was associated with the onset of a downward trend in opioid use (p < 0.05); no such association was found regarding NSAIDs. However, point prevalence of opioid use at the beginning (Nov. 2019) and at the end (Mai 2020) of the study period remained somewhat stable (17.0% vs. 16.4%). Regarding prescribed cannabinoids, a gradual increase in use was observed over the entire study period independently from the impact of the first wave of the pandemic (15.3% vs. 22.6%, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

While the occurrence of the first wave did have an impact on opioid use among people living with chronic pain, access to and use of opioids appear to have returned to normal before the end of the first wave of COVID-19.

Comprehensive mapping of NICU developmental care nursing interventions and related sensitive outcome indicators: a scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infant are still a contemporary concern. To counter the detrimental effects resulting from the hospitalisation in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), developmental care (DC) interventions have emerged as a philosophy of care aimed at protecting and enhancing preterm infant's development and promoting parental outcomes. In the past two decades, many authors have suggested DC models, core measures, practice guidelines and standards of care but outlined different groupings of interventions rather than specific interventions that can be used in NICU clinical practice. Moreover, as these DC interventions are mostly implemented by neonatal nurses, it would be strategic and valuable to identify specific outcome indicators to make visible the contribution of NICU nurses to DC.

OBJECTIVES

The overarching objective of this review is to identify the nature, range, and extent of the literature regarding DC nursing interventions for preterm infants in the NICU. The secondary twofold objectives are to highlight interventions that fall into identified categories of DC interventions and suggest nursing-sensitive outcome indicators related to DC interventions in the NICU.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Papers reporting on or discussing a DC nursing intervention during NICU hospitalisation will be included.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The Joanna Briggs Institute's methodology for scoping reviews will be followed. CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest and PsycInfo databases from 2009 to the present will be searched. Any type of paper, published in English or French, will be considered. Study selection and data extraction will be conducted by pairs of two review authors independently. A qualitative content analysis will be conducted.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

No Institutional Review Board ethical approbation is needed. Results of this review will be presented in scientific meetings and published in refereed papers.

Neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants who have experienced procedural pain in the neonatal intensive care unit: a systematic review protocol

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review will assess the association between painful procedures performed on preterm infants while hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit and short-, mid-, and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.

INTRODUCTION

Preterm infants hospitalized in the neonatal unit undergo many painful procedures. The repetition of these painful procedures in a preterm infant with an immature nervous system can have consequences for their neurodevelopment.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Prospective and retrospective observational study designs will be included in this review. Studies of preterm infants (less than 37 weeks of gestation) hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit who have undergone painful procedures, with or without skin breaking, will be considered for inclusion in this review. Our main variable will be neurodevelopment, measured in the short, medium, and long term.

METHODS

A comprehensive database search will be undertaken in CINAHL, PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. We will limit the search to articles published in English or French. Study selection, data extraction, and critical appraisal will be conducted by two independent reviewers. If possible, meta-analysis will be performed; otherwise the results will be presented by descriptive synthesis.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER

PROSPERO CRD42020189762.

Cross-cultural adaptations of the Family Resilience Assessment Scale: a systematic review protocol of measurement properties

OBJECTIVE

The review aims to critically appraise the measurement properties and adaptation processes of all cross-cultural adaptations of the Family Resilience Assessment Scale.

BACKGROUND

A number of family resilience instruments have been developed over the past decade; however, the Family Resilience Assessment Scale reports the best psychometric properties among populations with health issues. Since its publication in 2005, numerous translations and adaptations have been undertaken to use with culturally diverse populations. A systematic review of the properties of the Family Resilience Assessment Scale's cross-cultural adaptations is needed to evaluate the adapted versions' quality (validity, reliability, and responsiveness).

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Studies of interest include validation and cross-cultural adaptation studies of the Family Resilience Assessment Scale as well as research publications reporting psychometric properties of cross-cultural adaptations in specific populations.

METHODS

Nine databases will be consulted: CINAHL, PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, PubPsych, Health and Psychosocial Instruments database, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. The search will be limited to publications since 2005 without language restrictions. Articles will be screened by two independent reviewers and will undergo risk of bias assessment. The measurement properties of retrieved instruments will be assessed following COSMIN guidelines. Data extraction will be piloted and completed by two independent reviewers using an adapted extraction form. Psychometric properties will be reported in a narrative synthesis and further supported by a summary table.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER

PROSPERO (CRD42020219938).

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.

Nurses' practices regarding procedural pain management of preterm infants

BACKGROUND

It is well known that preterm neonates can feel pain which can be expressed through specific behaviors and signs. Repeated and untreated pain has consequences for the preterm neonates such as hypersensitivity to pain, as well as important repercussions on their motor and intellectual development. The use of non-pharmacological interventions for pain management by nurses is imperative to prevent these consequences in the NICU. The aim of this study is to survey neonatal nurses' interventions for pain management of preterm neonates.

METHODS

Twenty (20) nurses were recruited for this pilot observational survey study. Standard pain management interventions used by nurses during heel prick were evaluated by means of a questionnaire. In addition, 11 out of the 20 nurses were observed during heel prick to evaluate what and how interventions were done.

RESULTS

All infants (n = 11) received at least one pain management intervention during heel prick. Heterogeneity in pain management practices used by nurses is considerable. For 95% (19/20) of nurses, sucrose is a standard intervention reported in the survey but observations showed that it not always applied (64%). Positioning is more used (64%) by nurses than reported in the survey (45%). Swaddling also was also reported as a standard intervention by 45% of nurses, but it does not appear to be adequately performed (36%).

CONCLUSION

According to the results, it would be essential to review nurses' knowledge and skills regarding standard pain management interventions, during painful procedures, as the quality of these practices is questionable. Homogeneity of the standard of care is particularly important in research to allow an appropriate comparison between study groups and prevention study bias.

Effectiveness of interventions during NICU hospitalization on the neurodevelopment of preterm infants: a systematic review protocol

BACKGROUND

Previous systematic reviews have examined preterm infants' long-term neurodevelopment after neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) discharge, although none have explored the effectiveness of interventions on preterm infants' neurodevelopment during NICU hospitalization. The aim of this review is to evaluate whether interventions, i.e., sensory stimulation, parental involvement, and control of environment, improve preterm infants' neurodevelopment during their NICU hospitalization.

METHODS

Experimental studies such as randomized controlled/clinical trials (RCTs) and cluster RCT will be included in this systematic review. Selected studies will be published in English or in French, in the past 15 years from 2002 to 2017. The following electronic databases will be searched to locate relevant studies: CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE (OVID), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Web of Science. For all steps in selecting studies, agreement will be reached between two experts in neonatology. Data extraction will be performed independently by the two same experts and will then be compared. The Cochrane assessment tool will be used to screen the studies for risk of bias. A meta-analysis will be performed if the included studies are sufficiently homogeneous. Results will be analyzed using a standardized mean difference (with a 95% confidence interval). Statistical heterogeneity will be evaluated using the χ ² test at the significance level of 0.1 and the I ² with the classification suggested by PRISMA-P. If possible, subgroup analyses will be carried out considering preterm infants' gestational age, length of NICU hospitalization, and the characteristics of the intervention such as who delivered it, the type, the dose, the frequency, and the duration. Data synthesis will be performed using the RevMan 5.1 software. Publication bias and selection of variables in publication will be examined using the graphical method of funnel plot and with the statistical test of Egger. Quality of the evidence of all outcomes will be assessed using the Grades of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Working Group.

DISCUSSION

The results of this systematic review will highlight which interventions are effective for promoting preterm infants' neurodevelopment during NICU hospitalization and will contribute to the body of knowledge in neonatal care by providing guidance for NICU clinical practice and research.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42017047072.

Olfactive stimulation interventions for managing procedural pain in preterm and full-term neonates: a systematic review protocol

BACKGROUND

While hospitalized in the NICU, preterm neonates undergo many painful procedures. This may be the same for full-term neonates when longer hospitalization is required. Untreated and repeated pain has short-term as well as long-term consequences for these neonates. Pharmacological pain management methods have many limitations in their applications for both preterm and full-term neonates. A combination of different non-pharmacological methods is recommended for pain management. The effect of olfactive stimulation as a non-pharmacological pain management method was investigated by a few studies in the past years with premature and term neonates, but no systematic review has been conducted. The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the effect of olfactive stimulation intervention on the pain response of preterm and full-term neonates during painful procedures.

METHODS

An electronic search will be conducted in various databases such as PubMed (1946 to date), MEDLINE (1946 to date), CINAHL (1981 to date), Embase (1947 to date), PsycINFO (1806 to date), Web of Science (1945 to date), CENTRAL and Scopus (1960 to date), and Proquest, without restriction for the year of publication. Only studies published in English or French will be included. The search will be conducted using the following three concepts: pain, odors, and neonates. Selection of articles, data extraction, and assessment of risk of bias will be conducted by two independent researchers. A third researcher will intervene in case of disagreement. According to the availability of studies and data homogeneity, the results will be combined to perform a meta-analysis, or they will be described by a narrative synthesis.

DISCUSSION

This systematic review will provide light on the current state of knowledge on the effectiveness of olfactive stimulation interventions for managing pain in preterm and full-term neonates. This review will guide clinical practice as well as research to improve preterm and full-term neonates' pain management and prevent short-term and long-term complications caused by pain.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42017058021.

Effectiveness of early interventions for parental sensitivity following preterm birth: a systematic review protocol

BACKGROUND

Parental sensitivity is the interaction process by which parents (a) recognize cues from their infant, (b) interpret these cues adequately, (c) identify an appropriate response and (d) apply this response in an appropriate time frame. In the neonatal intensive care unit, parents of preterm infants often encounter factors hampering the establishment of their parental sensitivity. Parents report the need to be in proximity to and to participate in their preterm infant's care in order to develop their sensitivity to their newborn infant. To do so, the effectiveness of interventions promoting their parental sensitivity has been evaluated with randomized controlled trials. The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the effectiveness of early interventions promoting parental sensitivity of preterm infants' parents.

METHODS/DESIGN

A search will be done in the following databases: CINAHL, PubMed in addition to Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Scopus and ProQuest. No restriction for the years of publication will be considered. Two experts will be conducting independently each step of the review. All studies of randomized controlled trials of early interventions, for parents of preterm infants, implemented in the neonatal intensive care unit before the infant has reached 37 weeks of corrected gestational age, will be considered eligible. Primary outcome is parental sensitivity. Depending on the availability and quality of data, a meta-analysis will be done. Alternatively, a qualitative synthesis of data is planned. The systematic review follows the PRISMA recommendations. Finally, risk of bias and quality of the evidence of included studies will be assessed.

DISCUSSION

To our knowledge, this will be the first systematic review to examine the effect of early interventions that promote parental sensitivity of parents of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. The results of this review will guide development of best practice guidelines and recommendations for further research and will have implications for neonatal clinical practice.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42016047083.