Neonatal Pain: Perceptions and Current Practice

Mallory Perry; Zewen Tan; Jie Chen; Tessa Weidig; Wanli Xu; Xiaomei S Cong

doi:10.1016/j.cnc.2018.07.013

Neonatal Pain: Perceptions and Current Practice

Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am. 2018 Dec;30(4):549-561. doi: 10.1016/j.cnc.2018.07.013.

Authors

Mallory Perry¹, Zewen Tan², Jie Chen¹, Tessa Weidig¹, Wanli Xu¹, Xiaomei S Cong³

Affiliations

¹ School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, 231 Glenbrook Road, Unit 4026, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
² Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 91 North Eagleville Road, Unit 3125, Storrs, CT 06269-3125, USA.
³ Center for Advancement in Managing Pain, School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, 231 Glenbrook Road, Unit 4026, Storrs, CT 06269, USA. Electronic address: xiaomei.cong@uconn.edu.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Barriers; Neonatal care; Nonpharmacologic intervention; Pain; Pharmacologic intervention.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Hospitalization
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Infant, Premature, Diseases
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal*
Neonatal Nursing
Pain / diagnosis*
Pain / etiology*
Pain Management / methods*
Pain Measurement*
Surveys and Questionnaires

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding