The opinions of clinical staff regarding neonatal procedural pain in two Norwegian neonatal intensive care units

Abstract

Neonates are subjected to numerous painful procedures without sufficient pain management. The aim of this study was to describe the opinions of Norwegian physicians, nurses and nurse assistants who care for neonates, regarding procedural pain in neonates. A replication of a previous questionnaire study was conducted in two Norwegian neonatal intensive care units (NICU's). The questionnaire aimed at evaluating procedure painfulness, the current use of pharmacological agents and comfort measures and the optimal use of both. Ninety members of the clinical staff participated, which is a response rate of 87%. Opinions on how procedural pain is currently and optimally managed differed significantly. Although most respondents rated a majority of the listed procedures as being more than moderately painful, pharmacological agents were rarely used, except for the insertion of a chest tube and endotracheal intubation. Comfort measures were also believed to be underutilized, but not to the same degree as pharmacological agents. Procedural pain in neonates is not sufficiently managed and both pharmacological agents and comfort measures are underutilized, according to clinicians at two Norwegian NICU's.