Abstract
Background and aims: Pain experience can alter clinical outcome, brain development, and subsequent behaviour in newborns. The aims of this study were to investigate pain management, nonpharmacological treatment and use of pain scores during minor painful procedures, in healthy and low risk newborns, admitted in nurseries.
Methods: In the 2008 a questionnaire was sent to the 68 nurseries, of the whole Region.
Results: The rate of response to the questionnaire was 70,6%. Of all the Hospitals, 75% had pain prevention educational programs and 43% oriented on nonpharmacological treatment. Guidelines were available in 56% of the nurseries, validated pain scores were used by 35,4% of the units and where adopted, NIPS, were used in 20,8%. Further observations: the mean number of procedure was 3,7/newborn; pain prevention ranged between 23% to 40% for each procedure. Education was related to the level of care units, more planed in the II and III then in the I level (59%-53% vs 19%;p=0,045). Moreover, a specific educational program resulted in a greater use of guidelines (63%-19%;p=0,006). Where number of neonates/year/nurses was greater, guidelines were more utilized (193-154;p=0,057).
Conclusions: Compared with the few studies available, pain prevention was higher (max 48%), even if applied nonsystematically, but depending on the individual attitude of caregivers. Where used, nonpharmacological treatment was according to the recommendations of the Italian Neonatal Society (2005). Breastfeeding as a preventive measure during hell-lancing was utilized in 25% units adopting prevention, whereas it is considered the most effective and simple treatment.
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Battan, A., Farina, C. 465 Management of Current Practice for Pain Prevention in Minor Procedures in the Nurseries: A Regional Investigation in Lombardia.. Pediatr Res 68 (Suppl 1), 238 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-00465
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-00465