Sustained efficacy of kangaroo care for repeated painful procedures over neonatal intensive care unit hospitalization: a single-blind randomized controlled trial

Clinical rating scales for assessing pain in newborn infants

BACKGROUND

Six to nine per cent of all newborn infants require admission to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) due to either illness or prematurity. During their stay, these infants are often subjected to many painful procedures that can cause negative long-term consequences. To reduce the negative effects of pain exposure and ensure optimal and safe pain treatment, accurate assessment of pain is necessary. To achieve this, clinicians are dependent on the use of reliable, objective, and standardised clinical rating scales of pain, henceforth referred to as 'rating scales'. Numerous rating scales have been published; however, discrepancies in validity limit their overall applicability in clinical practice and research. Such limitations may lead to an over- or underestimation of pain, resulting in unnecessary sedation or inadequately treated pain, potentially jeopardising infant safety through treatment side effects, including withdrawal symptoms or prolonged discomfort. To date, the majority of rating scales have been developed to assess procedural pain, whilst fewer scales for prolonged pain are available. Premature infants further complicate matters, as they often have a reduced ability to display robust pain behaviour due to their immaturity. Research has also shown that the use of rating scales in clinical practice is suboptimal, due to both inadequate and infrequent implementation alongside inappropriate choice of scale for the specific pain, population, or setting under evaluation. Despite numerous studies investigating the burden of pain in newborn infants, little work has been done to summarise the current evidence on the appropriateness of rating scales for specific types of pain or infant conditions. This has likely been limited by the subjectivity of pain assessment and further complication of assessing such a non-verbal and immature patient population. The immense burden of neonatal pain worldwide has also led to the development of numerous rating scales in various languages, further hindering evidence summation.

OBJECTIVES

To systematically review the literature to compile and describe the development, content, and measurement properties of clinical rating scales for the assessment of pain in newborn infants.

SEARCH METHODS

An Information Specialist systematically searched CENTRAL, PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL. The latest update search is current to July 2023.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included all study designs that involved the development or testing of a rating scale for assessing pain in newborn infants. We included preterm (born before week 37) and term (born at week 37 or beyond) infants undergoing pain assessment for any medical indication. We also included studies that included healthcare professionals.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We evaluated clinical rating scales assessing pain in newborn infants using the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) methodology evaluating content validity, structural validity, internal consistency, reliability, measurement error, hypothesis testing, and cross-cultural validation. We used a modified GRADE approach to assess risk of bias, inconsistency, imprecision, and indirectness.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 79 studies involving a total of 7197 infants, 326 nurses, and 12 physicians. Twenty-seven clinical rating scales were used in 26 countries, with 14 studies evaluating preterm infants, 11 on term infants, 46 on both preterm and term infants, four solely on medical staff, and four on preterm and/or term infants plus medical staff. Following the COSMIN checklist, we found all rating scales to be of very low-certainty evidence, raising concerns regarding their validity, reliability, and applicability in this vulnerable population across diverse clinical settings.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Clinical staff should be vigilant when applying the currently available neonatal rating scales. Further development of rating scale content and testing for structural validity are necessary and should be prioritised. Together, they determine the content and structure of rating scales, underpin further testing, including reliability, and their prioritisation will make the greatest contribution to the evidence base for rating scales to assess neonatal pain. Collaborative efforts between clinicians and methodology experts will prevent methodological pitfalls and contribute to improving the validity and reliability of pain-rating scales in neonatology.

Neonatal Sucrose and Internalizing Behaviors at 18 Months in Children Born Very Preterm

Importance

In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), neonates born very preterm (<33 weeks' gestation) are exposed to great numbers of painful procedures, which is associated with more internalizing (anxiety and depressive) behaviors later in childhood. Oral sucrose is commonly used in NICUs to treat acute procedural pain and is effective in reducing behavioral responses, but the long-term associations between oral sucrose and child behaviors have not yet been examined.

Objective

To examine associations between cumulative neonatal pain and sucrose exposure in early life (prior to approximately 32 weeks postmenstrual age), in relation to child behaviors (internalizing and externalizing) at 18 months corrected age (CA) in children born very preterm and to examine whether the associations are sex specific.

Design, Setting, and Participants

In a prospective, longitudinal cohort study, children born very preterm (24-32 weeks' gestational age [GA]) were recruited from 2015 to 2019 from 3 tertiary NICUs in Canada and attended a follow-up visit at 18 months CA. Data analysis was performed from February to May 2024.

Exposures

The clinical protocol to treat acute procedural pain at site 1 was facilitated tucking with nonnutritive sucking; sites 2 and 3 used 24% sucrose with nonnutritive sucking. Prospective clinical record review was conducted (eg, number of painful procedures, cumulative sucrose dose, analgesia, sedation, days receiving mechanical ventilation, and surgical procedures).

Main Outcomes and Measures

Parents reported on their child's behavior on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; 1.5 to 5 years) yielding internalizing and externalizing scores.

Results

In total, 192 children (110 male [57%]) were included in the current study. After applying propensity score weights to adjust for clinical factors across sucrose and nonsucrose sites and accounting for neonatal pain, cumulative sucrose (milliliters) in early life was not associated with internalizing scores (B = 0.62; 95% CI, -0.46 to 1.99). However, greater neonatal pain exposure was significantly associated with higher 18-month CBCL internalizing scores (B = 0.01; 95% CI, 0.0003 to 0.0135; R2 = 1.8%). There were no associations with externalizing scores, and associations were not moderated by child sex.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of children born very preterm across 3 tertiary NICUs in Canada, cumulative sucrose exposure in early life demonstrated no association with child behavior and did not ameliorate the association between greater neonatal pain and internalizing behaviors. Further research is needed to identify pain management strategies that can effectively mitigate or protect against adverse behavioral outcomes in children born very preterm.

[Translating evidence: pain treatment in newborns, infants, and toddlers during needle-related procedures : German version]

INTRODUCTION

Treatment of pain in preterm, sick, and healthy newborns and infants and toddlers (up to 2 years of age) is consistently reported to be inadequate, and effective strategies are poorly implemented.

OBJECTIVES

To present existing evidence of effective pain treatment strategies during needle-related procedures and to highlight initiatives focused on translating evidence into practice.

METHODS

This Clinical Update focuses on the 2022 International Association for the Study of Pain Global Year for Translating Pain Knowledge to Practice in the specific population of newborns, infants, and toddlers. Best evidence is reviewed, and existing knowledge translation strategies and programs available to implement evidence into practice are presented.

RESULTS

Effective strategies for newborn and young infants during frequently occurring needle procedures include small volumes of sweet solutions, breastfeeding, or skin-to-skin care when feasible and culturally acceptable. In addition, strategies such as nonnutritive sucking, positioning, swaddling, gentle touch, facilitated tucking, and secure holding can be used. For toddlers, the evidence is less robust, and discerning between pain and distress is challenging. However, strategies recommended for needlerelated procedures include upright secure comfort holding by parents/caregivers, age-appropriate distraction, and topical anesthetics. Translation of effective pain management needs to involve the family, who need to be supported and empowered to comfort their child during painful procedures. Organizational, nationwide, and global initiatives aimed at improving implementation of effective pain treatments exist.

CONCLUSION

There is evidence of effective pain management strategies for newborns, infants, and toddlers, and a great deal of effort is being made to translate knowledge into action.

Evidenced-Based Recommendation for Involving Mothers to Reduce the Procedural Pain and Stress in High-Risk Neonates: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND

Neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) undergo several painful procedures, causing significant stress. Maternal involvement in neonatal care significantly reduces pain and stress, thereby supporting better neurodevelopment in neonates.

CLINICAL QUESTION

How do maternal involvement strategies reduce neonatal pain and pain-related stress in the NICU?

DATA SOURCES

A systematic search was conducted on CENTRAL, PubMed Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest databases, and Google Scholar for studies published between January 2007 and March 2024.

STUDY SELECTION

A search across 7 databases yielded a total of 1360 studies, which were exported to Rayyan software for screening. Two independent authors conducted the screening based on the eligibility criteria.

DATA EXTRACTION

Cochrane data collection forms were used to extract the data from the included studies.

RESULTS

Out of 1360 titles identified during the initial search, a total of 27 randomized controlled trials were eligible and were included. Although there is a slight inconsistency in results, meta-analysis findings revealed that skin-to-skin care, holding, massage, feeding the baby, and maternal voice stimulation, significantly reduce procedural pain and pain-related stress, in neonates admitted to the NICU.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH

Given the consistent results, this systematic review strongly supports NICU healthcare professionals in encouraging mothers to engage in neonatal care activities to reduce procedural pain and related stress. More research is needed, including navigating the mothers on the importance of their involvement in neonatal care throughout the NICU admission and after hospital discharge.

A review and bibliometric analysis of global research on non-pharmacologic management for neonatal and infant procedural pain

Repeated and prolonged exposure to pain can impair neurodevelopmental, behavioral, and cognitive outcomes in newborns. Effective pain management of newborns is essential, but there is no comprehensive analysis of the status of neonatal pain non-pharmacologic management research. Original publications related to the non-pharmacological management of neonatal pain were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) between 1989 and 2024. CiteSpace and VOSviewer were used to extract information about countries/regions, institutions, authors, keywords, and references to identify and analyze the research hotspots and trends in this field. 1331 authors from 51 countries and 548 institutions published studies on the non-pharmacological management of neonatal pain between 1989 and 2024, with the number of publications showing an overall upward trend. Canada emerged as the leading country in terms of publication volume, with the University of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick Children identified as key research institutions. High-frequency keywords included "procedural pain," "management," "sucrose," "analgesia," and "preterm infant," resulting in 11 clusters. Keyword emergence analysis revealed that "neonatal pain," "analgesia," "oral sucrose," and "oral glucose" were research hotpots. Analysis of highly cited papers showed that the most referenced articles were published in the Clinical Journal of Pain. Researchers' interest in neonatal procedural pain has increased significantly over the past 30 years. This article can serve as a theoretical reference for future research on mild to moderate pain in neonates and infants, and it can provide ideas for exploring novel and secure pain management strategies.

Quality Improvement Intervention Decreases Pain and Adverse Events Due to Heel Lances in Infants

BACKGROUND

Studies have investigated ways to reduce infants' pain during heel lancing, but research on preventing adverse events is scarce. This study investigated whether or not the number of infants with normal comfort (>8 and ≤14), distress (≤4), and pain (≤4) scores increased and whether or not the number of adverse events (blue and/or edematous heels and improperly placed incisions) decreased during and after heel lancing following an intervention.

METHODS

A pre- and post-quality improvement intervention including 189 and 186 heel lances, respectively, in infants (postmenstrual age ≥ 28 + 0 to ≤ 43 + 6 weeks) was conducted in May to July 2020 and April to July 2022. The intervention comprised five initiatives: skin-to-skin contact, comforting, sucrose/breastfeeding, warming cold heels, and ergonomics for staff. ComfortNeo score, along with distress and pain scores assessed the infants' pain and discomfort before, during, and after heel lancing. Adverse events were assessed visually.

RESULTS

Post-intervention, there was a significant increase in the number of infants with normal pain and distress scores during (86% to 95%, p = 0.01, and 82% to 93%, p = 0.01, respectively) and after (95% to 99%, p = 0.04, and 90% to 99%, p < 0.01, respectively) heel lancing compared to the pre-intervention. A non-significant reduction in the number of adverse events was observed (41 to 30, p = 0.17).

CONCLUSIONS

Cost-free procedural changes can decrease pain, discomfort, and adverse events in infants undergoing heel lancing. Painful procedures should be evaluated and optimized. Staff and parents should collaborate to manage pain and adverse events.

Does early skin-to-skin contact have a long-term effect on the emotional and behavioral development of very preterm infants?

Introduction

Premature birth may impair a sensitive, responsive, enjoyable, and regulating parenting style, potentially leading to behavioral, cognitive, and emotional deficits in children. Additionally, the emotional bond between the parent and infant may be disturbed due to the restrictions and difficulties at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), further negatively impacting child development. Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) directly after birth is strongly recommended also for preterm or low birth weight infants since there is high-certainty evidence that SSC has positive effects on neonatal and maternal health as well as on the quality of the parent-child relationship. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of skin-to-skin contact immediately after childbirth on the development of emotional and behavioral problems in children born preterm entering school.

Methods

This study is part of a randomized controlled delivery room skin-to-skin study (Deisy Study). A total of 33 children (aged 6-8 years) were assessed at school start. The German version of the CBCL/6-18R was used to evaluate the presence of behavior problems.

Results

The perceived parental stress 6 months after discharge was the variable that most contributed to the variance explanation. SSC immediately after childbirth was not significant in the prediction of emotional and behavioral problems at school start.

Limitations

The study was conducted in a small study group. Partners' variables were not included. Information regarding sociodemographic variables and bonding quality was collected 6 months (corrected age) after birth. The measurement of children's behavioral problems is not objective and corresponds to the parents' perception.

Clinical Trial Registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov, deisy study NCT01959737, deisy follow up NCT03366285.

Multiple Attempts of Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Insertion in a Preterm Infant Provoke Toxic Stress: A Case Report

Premature infants admitted to the NICU often require intravenous (IV) therapy. Peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) insertion is a common painful/stressful/invasive procedure. Repeated exposure to stressors produces toxic stress: a prolonged, frequent activation of the body's stress response that occurs when buffering relationships, that is, mother/supportive adult, are absent. This article presents an exemplar case study of a PIVC insertion to describe toxic stress responses a premature infant experienced during the procedure. The infant was admitted for extreme prematurity and respiratory failure. Twenty-nine days later, the infant developed possible necrotizing enterocolitis that necessitated cessation of enteral feedings, gastric decompression, IV administration of fluids, parenteral nutrients, and antibiotics. The PIVC insertion procedure was monitored and observed. The infant showed physiologic dysregulation, including bradycardia, tachycardia, oxygen desaturation, and high skin conductance responses, resulting from the stress exposure and insufficient nonpharmacologic/pharmacologic stress interventions. Education and practice change are needed to promote pain/stress management.

Soothing and Distress Behaviors of Infants, Parents, and Clinicians During Childhood Vaccinations

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to describe the behaviors of infants who were born preterm, their parents, and clinicians during 2-, 6-, 12-, and 18-month vaccinations.

METHODS

Vaccination sessions were video recorded for 3-5 minutes. The proportion of 5-second intervals in which distress and soothing behavior by infants, parents, and clinicians was coded using the Measure of Adult and Infant Soothing and Distress. Coding consisted of three phases: baseline/anticipatory (60 seconds prior to first needle), procedure (first needle to removal of final needle), and recovery (up to 180 seconds after removal of final needle).

RESULTS

A total of 64 infants were included. Distress behavior by infants during the baseline phase ranged from 13% (12-month vaccinations) to 29% (2-month). There was limited anticipatory soothing behavior from parents (10% [12-month] to 50% [2-month]) and clinicians (6% [12-month] to 17% [2-month]). Distress behavior in infants during the procedure ranged from 43% (18-month) to 96% (2-month). There was limited soothing behavior during the procedure from parents (10% [12-month] to 81% [12-month]) and clinicians (13% [12-month] to 71% [2-month]). Few infants received additional pain-reducing interventions, including skin-to-skin contact, 24% oral sucrose, and topical anesthetic.

DISCUSSION

Despite infant distress, there was limited anticipatory behavior from parents and clinicians. Two-month-old infants displayed the most distress across all time points yet received the least amount of treatment and proximal parent and clinician behavior. Additional implementation efforts are required to increase awareness and practice uptake among parents and clinicians to ensure infants receive equitable and effective pain management.

Nonpharmacological Interventions to Mitigate Procedural Pain in the NICU: An Integrative Review

BACKGROUND

Small infants experience a myriad of stimuli while in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), with many being painful or stressful experiences, although medically necessary.

PURPOSE

To determine what is known about nonpharmacological developmental care interventions used in the NICU to mitigate procedural pain of infants born under 32 weeks gestation.

SEARCH/STRATEGY

Five electronic databases were searched: Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, Embase and the Cochrane Library. The inclusion criteria were as follows: experimental and nonexperimental studies from all publication years with infants born at less than 32 weeks gestational age; peer-reviewed research articles studying nonpharmacological interventions such as skin-to-skin care, facilitated tucking, nonnutritive sucking, hand hugs, and swaddling; and English language articles. Our search yielded 1435 articles. After the elimination of 736 duplicates, a further 570 were deemed irrelevant based on their abstract/titles. Then, 124 full-text articles were analyzed with our inclusion and exclusion criteria.

FINDINGS

Twenty-seven studies were reviewed. Sucrose, facilitated tucking, pacifier, skin-to-skin care, and human milk appeared to lessen pain experienced during heel sticks, suctioning, nasogastric tube insertions, and echocardiograms. All nonpharmacological interventions failed to prove efficacious to adequately manage pain during retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) examinations.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Evidence review demonstrates that healthcare practitioners should use nonpharmacological measures to help prevent pain from day-to-day procedures in the NICU including heel sticks, nasogastric tube insertions, suctioning, echocardiograms, and subcutaneous injections.

IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH

Future research is necessary to better understand and measure how pain is manifested by very small premature infants. Specific research on mitigating the pain of examinations for retinopathy of prematurity is also needed.

Nursing-sensitive outcomes for the provision of pain management in pediatric populations with intellectual disabilities: a scoping review protocol

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this review is to identify and map nursing-sensitive outcomes for the provision of pain management in pediatric populations with intellectual disabilities that are currently reported in the literature.

INTRODUCTION

The experience of pain is highly individualized and subjective, with physiological, biochemical, and psychological differences contributing to pain perception. Pediatric populations with intellectual disabilities are at increased risk of ubiquitous pain exposure. Pain management effectiveness can be determined through the measurement of nursing-sensitive outcomes, which have not been mapped in the context of pediatric populations with intellectual disabilities.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, and gray literature discussing nursing pain management in pediatric populations with intellectual disabilities will be included. No date limits will be applied. Only studies published in English will be considered.

METHODS

This review will be guided by the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. The search strategy will aim to locate published and unpublished literature using the databases CINAHL (EBSCOhost), MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Scopus, PsycINFO (ProQuest), LILACS, SciELO, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. Titles and abstracts, and then full-text studies, will be selected and reviewed by 2 independent researchers against the inclusion criteria. Content analysis using the NNQR-C, C-HOBIC, NDNQI, and Donabedian model frameworks will be used for data extraction and organization, accompanied by charted results and narrative summaries, as appropriate.

Cumulative sucrose exposure for repeated procedural pain in preterm neonates and neurodevelopment at 18 months of corrected age: a prospective observational longitudinal study

INTRODUCTION

Oral sucrose is repeatedly administered to neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to treat pain from commonly performed procedures; however, there is limited evidence on its long-term cumulative effect on neurodevelopment. We examined the association between total sucrose volumes administered to preterm neonates for pain mitigation in the NICU and their neurodevelopment at 18 months of corrected age (CA).

METHODS

A prospective longitudinal single-arm observational study that enrolled hospitalised preterm neonates <32 weeks of gestational age at birth and <10 days of life was conducted in four level III NICUs in Canada. Neonates received 0.1 mL of 24% sucrose 2 min prior to all commonly performed painful procedures during their NICU stay. Neurodevelopment was assessed at 18 months of CA using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III). Multiple neonatal and maternal factors known to affect development were adjusted for in the generalised linear model analysis.

RESULTS

172 preterm neonates were enrolled and 118 were included in the analysis at 18 months of CA. The total mean sucrose volume administered/neonate/NICU stay was 5.96 (±5.6) mL, and the mean Bayley-III composite scores were: cognitive 91 (±17), language 86 (±18) and motor 88 (±18). There was no association between Bayley-III scores and the total sucrose volume: cognitive (p=0.57), language (p=0.42) and motor (p=0.70).

CONCLUSION

Cumulative sucrose exposure for repeated procedural pain in preterm neonates was neither associated with a delay in neurodevelopment nor neuroprotective effects at 18 months of CA. If sucrose is used, we suggest the minimally effective dose combined with other non-pharmacological interventions with demonstrated effectiveness such as skin-to-skin contact, non-nutritive sucking, facilitated tucking and swaddling.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02725814.

Prolonged pain in premature neonates hospitalised in neonatal intensive care units: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Exposure to repetitive pain during the neonatal period has been shown to have important short and long-term effects on the neurodevelopment of the premature neonate and can contribute to experienced prolonged pain. A uniform taxonomy of neonatal prolonged pain is still lacking to this day which contributes to suboptimal prolonged pain management in neonatal intensive care units. Accordingly, a scoping review exploring the state of knowledge about prolonged pain in preterm neonates hospitalised in the neonatal intensive care unit will contribute to the developing field of neonatal prolonged pain and provide recommendations for clinical prolonged pain management.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the scope, extent, and nature of the available literature on prolonged pain in premature neonates hospitalised in neonatal intensive care units.

DESIGN

Scoping review.

METHODS

An electronic search was conducted from inception to November 2023 in the databases of CINAHL, PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, GeryLit.org and Grey Source Index. Included studies discussed concepts related to neonatal prolonged pain such as definitions of prolonged pain, indicators of prolonged pain, contexts that result in prolonged pain, prolonged pain evaluation tools, consequences of prolonged pain and interventions for prolonged pain management.

RESULTS

Key concepts of neonatal prolonged pain were identified in the 86 included articles of this scoping review such as definitions (n = 26), indicators (n = 39), contexts (n = 49), scales (n = 56), consequences of prolonged pain (n = 30) and possible interventions for prolonged pain management (n = 22). Whilst a consensus on a definition has yet to be achieved, no proximate event was shown to cause prolonged pain and a time criterion was identified by authors as being relevant in defining prolonged pain. Interestingly, the context of hospitalisation was identified as being the most indicative of prolonged pain in premature neonates and should guide its evaluation and management, whilst only limited pain management interventions and consequences were discussed.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this scoping review contribute to the foundation of growing knowledge in neonatal prolonged pain and shed light on the ambiguity that currently exists on this topic in the scientific literature. This review summarises knowledge of key concepts necessary for a better understanding of prolonged pain and stresses the importance of considering contexts of hospitalisation for prolonged pain evaluation and management in neonatal intensive care units, with the objective of improving developmental outcomes of premature neonates.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

A scoping review reveals that the contexts of prolonged pain in premature neonates hospitalised in the neonatal intensive care unit are essential in guiding its evaluation and management.

Systematic Review of Kangaroo Care Duration's Impact in Neonatal Intensive Care Units on Infant-Maternal Health

Kangaroo care (KC), skin-to-skin contact between infants and caregivers, is encouraged in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to support health through improved weight, growth, and infant-maternal attachment while reducing the incidence of sepsis and infant pain. However, the optimal duration and frequency of KC to maximize health outcomes is unknown. Given parents' time stressors, identifying optimal KC time is critical. A literature review was undertaken on May 28, 2021 via querying the PubMed database from January 1, 1995, to May 28, 2021, regarding KC and NICUs with 442 results. Eleven studies met the eligibility criteria of (1) comparative KC between infants and adult caregivers in NICUs as a randomized controlled trial, (2) peer-reviewed articles in English, (3) study subjects ≥5, (4) health outcomes, and (5) KC sessions >1. Infant physical growth parameters, infant neurodevelopment, infant stress via salivary cortisol levels, and breastfeeding outcomes appear to increase with KC as compared with standard care (SC) without KC. Improvements were observed with longer KC duration, 2 h/d as compared with 1 h/d, for neurodevelopment and breastfeeding outcomes, but no greater improvement with longer KC duration was shown for reducing infant stress through salivary cortisol levels. Regarding maternal stress, the influence of KC duration showed mixed Parental Stressor Score: NICU scores. Further study on the impact of KC duration and frequency on health outcomes and dose-response relationship would help determine how much and how frequent KC is needed to improve specific health outcomes for infants and their mothers. KEY POINTS: · Data on kangaroo care duration's health impacts is lacking.. · Establishing dose-response for kangaroo care is needed.. · Kangaroo care for longer improves some but not all outcomes..

Parent-led neonatal pain management-a narrative review and update of research and practices

Introduction

Research related to parent-led neonatal pain management is increasing, as is the clinical implementation. Skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding and parents' vocalizations are examples of pain reducing methods that give parents an opportunity to protect their infant from harm while alleviating their anxiety and developing their parenting skills.

Methods

In this paper we will provide a narrative review and describe the current research about parent-led neonatal pain management. Based on this we will discuss clinical challenges, implementation strategies and implications for future research.

Results

Parents express great readiness to embrace opportunities to increase their self-efficacy in their ability to address infant pain. Parent-led pain-reducing methods are effective, feasible, cost-effective, culturally sensitive, and can be individualized and tailored to both the parent's and infant's needs. Both barriers and facilitators of parent-led pain care have been studied in research highlighting structural, organizational, educational, and intra- and interpersonal aspects. For example, health care professionals' attitudes and beliefs on parent-led methods, and their concern that parental presence during a procedure increases staff anxiety. On the other hand, the presence of a local pain champion whose duty is to facilitate the adoption of pain control measures and actively promote parent-professional collaboration, is crucial for culture change in neonatal pain management and nurses have a key role in this change. The knowledge-to-practice gap in parent-led management of infants' procedure-related pain highlight the need for broader educational applications and collaborative professional, parental and research initiatives to facilitate practice change.

Conclusion

Parent-led neonatal pain management is more than simply a humane and compassionate thing to do. The inclusion of parent-led pain care has been scientifically proven to be one of the most effective ways to reduce pain associated with repeated painful procedures in early life and parents report a desire to participate. Focus on enablers across interprofessional, organizational and structural levels and implementation of recommended pediatric pain guidelines can support the provision of optimal evidence-based family-centered neonatal pain management.

Neuroprotective therapies in the NICU in preterm infants: present and future (Neonatal Neurocritical Care Series)

The survival of preterm infants has steadily improved thanks to advances in perinatal and neonatal intensive clinical care. The focus is now on finding ways to improve morbidities, especially neurological outcomes. Although antenatal steroids and magnesium for preterm infants have become routine therapies, studies have mainly demonstrated short-term benefits for antenatal steroid therapy but limited evidence for impact on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. Further advances in neuroprotective and neurorestorative therapies, improved neuromonitoring modalities to optimize recruitment in trials, and improved biomarkers to assess the response to treatment are essential. Among the most promising agents, multipotential stem cells, immunomodulation, and anti-inflammatory therapies can improve neural outcomes in preclinical studies and are the subject of considerable ongoing research. In the meantime, bundles of care protecting and nurturing the brain in the neonatal intensive care unit and beyond should be widely implemented in an effort to limit injury and promote neuroplasticity. IMPACT: With improved survival of preterm infants due to improved antenatal and neonatal care, our focus must now be to improve long-term neurological and neurodevelopmental outcomes. This review details the multifactorial pathogenesis of preterm brain injury and neuroprotective strategies in use at present, including antenatal care, seizure management and non-pharmacological NICU care. We discuss treatment strategies that are being evaluated as potential interventions to improve the neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants born prematurely.

A longitudinal observational study on the epidemiology of painful procedures and sucrose administration in hospitalized preterm neonates

Although sucrose is widely administered to hospitalized infants for single painful procedures, total sucrose volume during the entire neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay and associated adverse events are unknown. In a longitudinal observation study, we aimed to quantify and contextualize sucrose administration during the NICU stay. Specifically, we investigated the frequency, nature, and severity of painful procedures; proportion of procedures where neonates received sucrose; total volume of sucrose administered for painful procedures; and incidence and type of adverse events. Neonates <32 weeks gestational age at birth and <10 days of life were recruited from four Canadian tertiary NICUs. Daily chart reviews of documented painful procedures, sucrose administration, and any associated adverse events were undertaken. One hundred sixty-eight neonates underwent a total of 9093 skin-breaking procedures (mean 54.1 [±65.2] procedures/neonate or 1.1 [±0.9] procedures/day/neonate) during an average NICU stay of 45.9 (±31.4) days. Pain severity was recorded for 5399/9093 (59.4%) of the painful procedures; the majority (5051 [93.5%]) were heel lances of moderate pain intensity. Sucrose was administered for 7839/9093 (86.2%) of painful procedures. The total average sucrose volume was 5.5 (±5.4) mL/neonate or 0.11 (±0.08) mL/neonate/day. Infants experienced an average of 7.9 (±12.7) minor adverse events associated with pain and/or sucrose administration that resolved without intervention. The total number of painful procedures, sucrose volume, and incidence of adverse events throughout the NICU stay were described addressing an important knowledge gap in neonatal pain. These data provide a baseline for examining the association between total sucrose volume during NICU stay and research on longer-term behavioral and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Sucrose analgesia for heel-lance procedures in neonates

BACKGROUND

Sucrose has been examined for calming and pain-relieving effects in neonates for invasive procedures such as heel lance.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness of sucrose for relieving pain from heel lance in neonates in terms of immediate and long-term outcomes SEARCH METHODS: We searched (February 2022): CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and three trial registries.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials where term and/or preterm neonates received sucrose for heel lances. Comparison treatments included water/placebo/no intervention, non-nutritive sucking (NNS), glucose, breastfeeding, breast milk, music, acupuncture, facilitated tucking, and skin-to-skin care.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard Cochrane methods. We reported mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using the fixed-effect model for continuous outcome measures. We assessed heterogeneity by the I2 test. We used GRADE to assess certainty of evidence.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 55 trials (6273 infants): 29 included term neonates, 22 included preterm neonates, and four included both. Heel lance was investigated in 50 trials; 15 investigated other minor painful procedures in addition to lancing. Sucrose vs control The evidence suggests that sucrose probably results in a reduction in PIPP scores compared to the control group at 30 seconds (MD -1.74 (95% CI -2.11 to -1.37); I2 = 62%; moderate-certainty evidence) and 60 seconds after lancing (MD -2.14, 95% CI -3.34 to -0.94; I2 = 0%; moderate-certainty evidence). The evidence is very uncertain about the effects of sucrose on DAN scores compared to water at 30 seconds after lancing (MD -1.90, 95% CI -8.58 to 4.78; heterogeneity not applicable (N/A); very low-certainty evidence). The evidence suggests that sucrose probably results in a reduction in NIPS scores compared to water immediately after lancing (MD -2.00, 95% CI -2.42 to -1.58; heterogeneity N/A; moderate-certainty evidence). Sucrose vs NNS The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of sucrose on PIPP scores compared to NNS during the recovery period after lancing (MD 0.60, 95% CI -0.30 to 1.50; heterogeneity not applicable; very low-certainty evidence) and on DAN scores at 30 seconds after lancing (MD -1.20, 95% CI -7.87 to 5.47; heterogeneity N/A; very low-certainty evidence). Sucrose + NNS vs NNS The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of sucrose + NNS on PIPP scores compared to NNS during lancing (MD -4.90, 95% CI -5.73 to -4.07; heterogeneity not applicable; very low-certainty evidence) and during recovery after lancing (MD -3.80, 95% CI -4.47 to -3.13; heterogeneity N/A; very low-certainty evidence). The evidence is very uncertain about the effects of sucrose + NNS on NFCS scores compared to water + NNS during lancing (MD -0.60, 95% CI -1.47 to 0.27; heterogeneity N/A; very low-certainty evidence). Sucrose vs glucose The evidence suggests that sucrose results in little to no difference in PIPP scores compared to glucose at 30 seconds (MD 0.26, 95% CI -0.70 to 1.22; heterogeneity not applicable; low-certainty evidence) and 60 seconds after lancing (MD -0.02, 95% CI -0.79 to 0.75; heterogeneity N/A; low-certainty evidence). Sucrose vs breastfeeding The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of sucrose on PIPP scores compared to breastfeeding at 30 seconds after lancing (MD -0.70, 95% CI -0.49 to 1.88; I2 = 94%; very low-certainty evidence). The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of sucrose on COMFORTneo scores compared to breastfeeding after lancing (MD -2.60, 95% CI -3.06 to -2.14; heterogeneity N/A; very low-certainty evidence). Sucrose vs expressed breast milk The evidence suggests that sucrose may result in little to no difference in PIPP-R scores compared to expressed breast milk during (MD 0.3, 95% CI -0.24 to 0.84; heterogeneity not applicable; low-certainty evidence) and at 30 seconds after lancing (MD 0.3, 95% CI -0.11 to 0.71; heterogeneity N/A; low-certainty evidence). The evidence suggests that sucrose probably may result in slightly increased PIPP-R scores compared to expressed breast milk 60 seconds after lancing (MD 1.10, 95% CI 0.34 to 1.86; heterogeneity N/A; low-certainty evidence). The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of sucrose on DAN scores compared to expressed breast milk 30 seconds after lancing (MD -1.80, 95% CI -8.47 to 4.87; heterogeneity N/A; very low-certainty evidence). Sucrose vs laser acupuncture There was no difference in PIPP-R scores between sucrose and music groups; however, data were reported as medians and IQRs. The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of sucrose on NIPS scores compared to laser acupuncture during lancing (MD -0.86, 95% CI -1.43 to -0.29; heterogeneity N/A; very low-certainty evidence). Sucrose vs facilitated tucking The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of sucrose on total BPSN scores compared to facilitated tucking during lancing (MD -2.27, 95% CI -4.66 to 0.12; heterogeneity N/A; very low-certainty evidence) and during recovery after lancing (MD -0.31, 95% CI -1.72 to 1.10; heterogeneity N/A; very low-certainty evidence). Sucrose vs skin-to-skin + water (repeated lancing) The evidence suggests that sucrose results in little to no difference in PIPP scores compared to skin-to-skin + water at 30 seconds after 1st (MD 0.13, 95% CI -0.70 to 0.96); 2nd (MD -0.56, 95% CI -1.57 to 0.45); or 3rd lancing (MD-0.15, 95% CI -1.26 to 0.96); heterogeneity N/A, low-certainty evidence for all comparisons. The evidence suggests that sucrose results in little to no difference in PIPP scores compared to skin-to-skin + water at 60 seconds after 1st (MD -0.61, 95% CI -1.55 to 0.33); 2nd (MD -0.12, 95% CI -0.99 to 0.75); or 3rd lancing (MD-0.40, 95% CI -1.48 to 0.68); heterogeneity N/A, low-certainty evidence for all comparisons. Minor adverse events required no intervention.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Sucrose compared to control probably results in a reduction of PIPP scores 30 and 60 seconds after single heel lances (moderate-certainty evidence). Evidence is very uncertain about the effect of sucrose compared to NNS, breastfeeding, laser acupuncture, facilitated tucking, and the effect of sucrose + NNS compared to NNS in reducing pain. Sucrose compared to glucose, expressed breast milk, and skin-to-skin care shows little to no difference in pain scores. Sucrose combined with other nonpharmacologic interventions should be used with caution, given the uncertainty of evidence.

Non-pharmacological management of infant and young child procedural pain

BACKGROUND

Despite evidence of the long-term implications of unrelieved pain during infancy, it is evident that infant pain is still under-managed and unmanaged. Inadequately managed pain in infancy, a period of exponential development, can have implications across the lifespan. Therefore, a comprehensive and systematic review of pain management strategies is integral to appropriate infant pain management. This is an update of a previously published review update in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2015, Issue 12) of the same title.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the efficacy and adverse events of non-pharmacological interventions for infant and child (aged up to three years) acute pain, excluding kangaroo care, sucrose, breastfeeding/breast milk, and music.

SEARCH METHODS

For this update, we searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE-Ovid platform, EMBASE-OVID platform, PsycINFO-OVID platform, CINAHL-EBSCO platform and trial registration websites (ClinicalTrials.gov; International Clinical Trials Registry Platform) (March 2015 to October 2020). An update search was completed in July 2022, but studies identified at this point were added to 'Awaiting classification' for a future update.  We also searched reference lists and contacted researchers via electronic list-serves.  We incorporated 76 new studies into the review.  SELECTION CRITERIA: Participants included infants from birth to three years in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or cross-over RCTs that had a no-treatment control comparison. Studies were eligible for inclusion in the analysis if they compared a non-pharmacological pain management strategy to a no-treatment control group (15 different strategies). In addition, we also analysed studies when the unique effect of adding a non-pharmacological pain management strategy onto another pain management strategy could be assessed (i.e. additive effects on a sweet solution, non-nutritive sucking, or swaddling) (three strategies). The eligible control groups for these additive studies were sweet solution only, non-nutritive sucking only, or swaddling only, respectively. Finally, we qualitatively described six interventions that met the eligibility criteria for inclusion in the review, but not in the analysis.  DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: The outcomes assessed in the review were pain response (reactivity and regulation) and adverse events. The level of certainty in the evidence and risk of bias were based on the Cochrane risk of bias tool and the GRADE approach. We analysed the standardised mean difference (SMD) using the generic inverse variance method to determine effect sizes.  MAIN RESULTS: We included total of 138 studies (11,058 participants), which includes an additional 76 new studies for this update. Of these 138 studies, we analysed 115 (9048 participants) and described 23 (2010 participants) qualitatively. We described qualitatively studies that could not be meta-analysed due to being the only studies in their category or statistical reporting issues. We report the results of the 138 included studies here. An SMD effect size of 0.2 represents a small effect, 0.5 a moderate effect, and 0.8 a large effect. The thresholds for the I2 interpretation were established as follows: not important (0% to 40%); moderate heterogeneity (30% to 60%); substantial heterogeneity (50% to 90%); considerable heterogeneity (75% to 100%). The most commonly studied acute procedures were heel sticks (63 studies) and needlestick procedures for the purposes of vaccines/vitamins (35 studies). We judged most studies to have high risk of bias (103 out of 138), with the most common methodological concerns relating to blinding of personnel and outcome assessors. Pain responses were examined during two separate pain phases: pain reactivity (within the first 30 seconds after the acutely painful stimulus) and immediate pain regulation (after the first 30 seconds following the acutely painful stimulus). We report below the strategies with the strongest evidence base for each age group. In preterm born neonates, non-nutritive sucking may reduce pain reactivity (SMD -0.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.03 to -0.11, moderate effect; I2 = 93%, considerable heterogeneity) and improve immediate pain regulation (SMD -0.61, 95% CI -0.95 to -0.27, moderate effect; I2 = 81%, considerable heterogeneity), based on very low-certainty evidence. Facilitated tucking may also reduce pain reactivity (SMD -1.01, 95% CI -1.44 to -0.58, large effect; I2 = 93%, considerable heterogeneity) and improve immediate pain regulation (SMD -0.59, 95% CI -0.92 to -0.26, moderate effect; I2 = 87%, considerable heterogeneity); however, this is also based on very low-certainty evidence. While swaddling likely does not reduce pain reactivity in preterm neonates (SMD -0.60, 95% CI -1.23 to 0.04, no effect; I2 = 91%, considerable heterogeneity), it has been shown to possibly improve immediate pain regulation (SMD -1.21, 95% CI -2.05 to -0.38, large effect; I2 = 89%, considerable heterogeneity), based on very low-certainty evidence. In full-term born neonates, non-nutritive sucking may reduce pain reactivity (SMD -1.13, 95% CI -1.57 to -0.68, large effect; I2 = 82%, considerable heterogeneity) and improve immediate pain regulation (SMD -1.49, 95% CI -2.20 to -0.78, large effect; I2 = 92%, considerable heterogeneity), based on very low-certainty evidence.  In full-term born older infants, structured parent involvement was the intervention most studied. Results showed that this intervention has little to no effect in reducing pain reactivity (SMD -0.18, 95% CI -0.40 to 0.03, no effect; I2 = 46%, moderate heterogeneity) or improving immediate pain regulation (SMD -0.09, 95% CI -0.40 to 0.21, no effect; I2 = 74%, substantial heterogeneity), based on low- to moderate-certainty evidence. Of these five interventions most studied, only two studies observed adverse events, specifically vomiting (one preterm neonate) and desaturation (one full-term neonate hospitalised in the NICU) following the non-nutritive sucking intervention. The presence of considerable heterogeneity limited our confidence in the findings for certain analyses, as did the preponderance of evidence of very low to low certainty based on GRADE judgements.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Overall, non-nutritive sucking, facilitated tucking, and swaddling may reduce pain behaviours in preterm born neonates. Non-nutritive sucking may also reduce pain behaviours in full-term neonates. No interventions based on a substantial body of evidence showed promise in reducing pain behaviours in older infants. Most analyses were based on very low- or low-certainty grades of evidence and none were based on high-certainty evidence. Therefore, the lack of confidence in the evidence would require further research before we could draw a definitive conclusion.

Developmental Cascades Link Maternal-Newborn Skin-to-Skin Contact with Young Adults' Psychological Symptoms, Oxytocin, and Immunity; Charting Mechanisms of Developmental Continuity from Birth to Adulthood

Premature birth disrupts the continuity of maternal-newborn bodily contact, which underpins the development of physiological and behavioral support systems. Utilizing a unique cohort of mother-preterm dyads who received skin-to-skin contact (Kangaroo Care, KC) versus controls, and following them to adulthood, we examined how a touch-based neonatal intervention impacts three adult outcomes; anxiety/depressive symptoms, oxytocin, and secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA), a biomarker of the immune system. Consistent with dynamic systems' theory, we found that links from KC to adult outcomes were indirect, mediated by its effects on maternal mood, child attention and executive functions, and mother-child synchrony across development. These improvements shaped adult outcomes via three mechanisms; (a) "sensitive periods", where the infancy improvement directly links with an outcome, for instance, infant attention linked with higher oxytocin and lower s-IgA; (b) "step-by-step continuity", where the infancy improvement triggers iterative changes across development, gradually shaping an outcome; for instance, mother-infant synchrony was stable across development and predicted lower anxiety/depressive symptoms; and (c) "inclusive mutual-influences", describing cross-time associations between maternal, child, and dyadic factors; for instance, from maternal mood to child executive functions and back. Findings highlight the long-term impact of a birth intervention across development and provide valuable insights on the mechanisms of "developmental continuity", among the key topics in developmental research.

Parents' perceptions of their child's pain assessment in hospital care: A cross-sectional study

PURPOSE

A prerequisite for successful pain management is identifying the pain and assessing its intensity. The aim of this study was to describe parents' perceptions of their child's pain assessment in hospital care.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was completed by parents (n = 261) whose child was hospitalized in one of the pediatric units (n = 6) of the University Hospital in Finland. Quantitative data were analyzed using statistical methods; open-ended data were analyzed using inductive content analysis.

RESULTS

Parents reported that their children experienced moderate (36%) to severe pain (42%) during hospitalization. The most intense pain experienced by the children was associated with needle-related procedures (41%). A large proportion of parents (83%) were involved in their child's pain assessment. Parents were satisfied with their child's pain assessment but perceived some shortcomings. Parents hoped that a variety of methods would be used to assess their child's pain and that the parents' and child's views on pain would be taken into account.

CONCLUSIONS

Most children experience moderate to severe pain during hospitalization. Parents are often involved in pain assessment but are rarely instructed to use pain scales.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Child's pain should be assessed regularly and frequently enough. It is important that the child and parents are involved in shared decision-making about pain assessment and treatment, and they have opportunities to ask questions. Guidance should be offered to parents about the use of pain assessment scales.

Translating evidence: pain treatment in newborns, infants, and toddlers during needle-related procedures

Introduction

Treatment of pain in preterm, sick, and healthy newborns and infants and toddlers (up to 2 years of age) is consistently reported to be inadequate, and effective strategies are poorly implemented.

Objectives

To present existing evidence of effective pain treatment strategies during needle-related procedures and to highlight initiatives focused on translating evidence into practice.

Methods

This Clinical Update focuses on the 2022 International Association for the Study of Pain Global Year for Translating Pain Knowledge to Practice in the specific population of newborns, infants, and toddlers. Best evidence is reviewed, and existing knowledge translation strategies and programs available to implement evidence into practice are presented.

Results

Effective strategies for newborn and young infants during frequently occurring needle procedures include small volumes of sweet solutions, breastfeeding, or skin-to-skin care when feasible and culturally acceptable. In addition, strategies such as nonnutritive sucking, positioning, swaddling, gentle touch, facilitated tucking, and secure holding can be used. For toddlers, the evidence is less robust, and discerning between pain and distress is challenging. However, strategies recommended for needle-related procedures include upright secure comfort holding by parents/caregivers, age-appropriate distraction, and topical anesthetics. Translation of effective pain management needs to involve the family, who need to be supported and empowered to comfort their child during painful procedures. Organizational, nationwide, and global initiatives aimed at improving implementation of effective pain treatments exist.

Conclusion

There is evidence of effective pain management strategies for newborns, infants, and toddlers, and a great deal of effort is being made to translate knowledge into action.

The effectiveness of repeated sucrose for procedural pain in neonates in a longitudinal observational study

Goal

To determine the analgesic effectiveness of repeated sucrose administration for skin-breaking (SB) procedures over the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) hospitalization of preterm infants.

Methods

Longitudinal observational study, conducted in four level III Canadian NICUs. Eligible infants were <32 weeks gestational age at birth, and <10 days of life at enrollment. Infants received 24% sucrose (0.12 ml) prior to all painful procedures. The Premature Infant Pain Profile - Revised (PIPP-R) was used at 30 and 60 seconds after a medically-required SB procedure as soon as possible after enrollment and weekly up to three additional times for scheduled procedures.

Results

172 infants (57.3% male, gestational age 28.35 (±2.31) weeks) were included. The mean 30 s PIPP-R scores were 6.11 (±3.68), 5.76 (±3.41), 6.48 (±3.67), and 6.81 (±3.69) respectively; there were no statistically significant interactions of study site by time (p = 0.31) or over time (p = 0.15). At 60 s, mean PIPP-R scores were 6.05 (±4.09), 5.74 (±3.67), 6.19 (±3.7), and 5.99 (±3.76) respectively; there were no study site by time interactions (p = 0.14) or differences over time (p = 0.52). There was a statistically significant site difference in the effectiveness of sucrose at 30 and 60 seconds (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Consistently low PIPP-R scores following a skin-breaking procedure indicated that the analgesic effectiveness of the minimal dose of sucrose was sustained over time in the NICU. Further research is required to determine the optimal combination of sucrose and other pain management strategies to improve clinical practice and the impact of consistent use of repeated use of sucrose on neurodevelopment.

Efficacy of skin-to-skin vs. cloth-to-cloth contact for thermoregulation in low birth weight newborns: a randomized crossover trial

OBJECTIVE

Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is effective to maintain normal temperature in low birth weight (LBW) newborns. However, there are several barriers related to privacy and space availability for its optimum utilization. We used cloth-to-cloth contact (CCC), i.e. placing the newborn in Kangaroo position without removing cloths as an innovative alternative to SSC to test its efficacy for thermoregulation and feasibility as compared to SSC in LBW newborns.

METHODS

The newborns eligible for Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) in step-down nursery were included in this randomized crossover trial. Newborns received SSC or CCC as per randomization on the first day and then crossed over to other group on the next day and so on. A feasibility questionnaire was asked to the mothers and the nurses. Axillary temperature was measured at various time intervals. Group comparisons were made by either using independent sample t-test or Chi-square test.

RESULTS

A total of 23 newborns received KMC for total 152 occasions in the SSC group and 149 times in the CCC group. There was no significant temperature difference between the groups at any time-point. Mean (standard deviation) gain of temperature at 120 min in the CCC group [0.43 (0.34)°C] was comparable to the SSC group [0.49 (0.36)°C] (p = 0.13). We did not observe any adverse effect of CCC. Most mothers and nurses perceived CCC feasible in hospital settings and felt that it could be feasible in-home settings too.

CONCLUSION

CCC was safe, more feasible and not inferior to SSC for maintaining thermoregulation in LBW newborns.

Early-life factors associated with neurobehavioral outcomes in preterm infants during NICU hospitalization

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of early-life pain/stress and medical characteristics on neurobehavioral outcomes in preterm infants.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study was conducted with 92 preterm infants (28-32 weeks gestational age [GA]). Early-life pain/stress was measured via the Neonatal Infant Stressor Scale (NISS) during the first 28 days of NICU hospitalization. Neurobehavioral outcomes were evaluated using the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale at 36-38 weeks post-menstrual age. Functional regression and machine learning models were performed to investigate the predictors of neurobehavioral outcomes.

RESULTS

Infants experienced daily acute pain/stress (24.99 ± 7.13 frequencies) and chronic events (41.13 ± 17.81 h). Up to 12 days after birth, both higher acute and chronic NISS scores were associated with higher stress scores; and higher chronic NISS scores were also related to lower self-regulation and quality of movement. Younger GA predicted worse neurobehavioral outcomes; GA < 31.57 weeks predicted worse stress/abstinence, self-regulation, and excitability; GA < 30.57 weeks predicted poor quality of movement. A higher proportion of maternal breastmilk intake predicted better self-regulation, excitability, and quality of movement in older GA infants.

CONCLUSIONS

Preterm infants are vulnerable to the impact of early-life pain/stress. Neurobehavioral outcomes are positively associated with increased GA and higher maternal breastmilk intake.

IMPACT

During the first 12 days of life, preterm infant neurobehavioral outcomes were vulnerable to the negative impact of acute and chronic pain/stress. Future research is warranted to investigate the long-term effects of early-life pain/stress on neurobehavioral outcomes. Gestational age remains one of the critical factors to predict neurobehavioral outcomes in preterm infants; older gestational age significantly predicted better neurobehavioral outcomes. Feeding with a higher proportion of maternal breastmilk predicted better neurobehavioral outcomes. Future research is warranted to investigate how maternal breastmilk may buffer the negative effects of early-life pain/stress on neurobehavioral outcomes.

Clinical practice guideline for kangaroo mother care in preterm and low birth weight infants

Kangaroo mother care has reduced mortality and morbidity in preterm and low birth weight infants and has many benefits, such as promoting breastfeeding. Based on the current evidence in China and international, we developed a clinical practice guideline for kangaroo mother care in preterm and low birth weight infants using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation and proposed 34 recommendations for 20 key questions. Our goal is to promote the appropriate implementation of kangaroo mother care in clinical practice.

Effects of kangaroo care on pain relief in premature infants during painful procedures: A meta-analysis

AIM

This study aimed to evaluate effects of kangaroo care on pain relief in premature infants during painful procedures.

DESIGN

A meta-analysis.

METHODS

Eight databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China Biology Medicine [CBM], China Science and Technology Journal Database [CSTJ], China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], and WanFang Data) were systematically reviewed from inception to November 2021 for randomized controlled and crossover trials.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies, including 2311 infants (kangaroo care: 1153, control: 1158) were analyzed. Kangaroo care had a moderate effect on pain relief during painful procedures in premature infants at a gestational age of 32-36 + 6 weeks but no effect at 28-31 + 6 weeks. Furthermore, 15 or 30 min of kangaroo care had a moderate effect and could markedly relieve pain at the instant of and 30/60 s after, had a small effect at 90 s after, and no effect at 120 s after the procedure.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Kangaroo care may be an effective nonpharmacologic alternative therapy to relieve procedural pain in premature infants born at a gestational age of 32-36 + 6 weeks.

Kangaroo Care for Relieving Neonatal Pain Caused by Invasive Procedures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective

Neonates develop significant pain responses during invasive procedures, and nonpharmacological interventions are better means of pain relief. An increasing number of studies have confirmed the effectiveness of kangaroo care (KC) in relieving neonatal pain caused by invasive procedures, but conclusions are inconsistent. In this study, a literature search and meta-analysis were performed to evaluate the effect of kangaroo care on relieving neonatal pain.

Methods

The works of literature related to the application of KC in neonatal invasive procedures in the databases of Pubmed, Embase, Springer Link, Ovid, CNKI, and CBM were searched, and the RCT literature from database establishment to July 2022, was selected to evaluate the risk of bias, combined with statistical pain relief outcome indicators.

Results

12 pieces of literature were finally included in this study, with a total of 1172 newborns, including 585 newborns (49.9%) using KC and 587 newborns (50.1%) using the control group method. Meta-analysis showed that an infant's heart rate during invasive procedures under KC intervention was significantly lower than that of other interventions (MD = -6.77, 95% CI (-13.03, -0.50), Z = -2.12, P=0.03), but compared to other nonpharmacological interventions, there was no clear advantage in the overall evaluation of pain reduction in infants (MD = -0.36, 95% CI (-0.80, 0.08), Z = -1.60, P=0.11).

Conclusion

The heart rate of KC intervention during invasive procedures in infants is significantly lower than that of other interventions, and it can significantly relieve pain in infants, but the effect is not more than that of oral sucrose (or glucose) or standard care. KC combined with oral sucrose may achieve a better pain relief effect in infants, but more studies are still needed to verify it.

Early-life stress exposure and large-scale covariance brain networks in extremely preterm-born infants

The stressful extrauterine environment following premature birth likely has far-reaching and persistent adverse consequences. The effects of early "third-trimester" ex utero stress on large-scale brain networks' covariance patterns may provide a potential avenue to understand how early-life stress following premature birth increases risk or resilience. We evaluated the impact of early-life stress exposure (e.g., quantification of invasive procedures) on maturational covariance networks (MCNs) between 30 and 40 weeks of gestational age in 180 extremely preterm-born infants (<28 weeks of gestation; 43.3% female). We constructed MCNs using covariance of gray matter volumes between key nodes of three large-scale brain networks: the default mode network (DMN), executive control network (ECN), and salience network (SN). Maturational coupling was quantified by summating the number of within- and between-network connections. Infants exposed to high stress showed significantly higher SN but lower DMN maturational coupling, accompanied by DMN-SN decoupling. Within the SN, the insula, amygdala, and subthalamic nucleus all showed higher maturational covariance at the nodal level. In contrast, within the DMN, the hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, and fusiform showed lower coupling following stress. The decoupling between DMN-SN was observed between the insula/anterior cingulate cortex and posterior parahippocampal gyrus. Early-life stress showed longitudinal network-specific maturational covariance patterns, leading to a reprioritization of developmental trajectories of the SN at the cost of the DMN. These alterations may enhance the ability to cope with adverse stimuli in the short term but simultaneously render preterm-born individuals at a higher risk for stress-related psychopathology later in life.

Pharmacologic Analgesia and Sedation in Neonates

Chronic pain and agitation in neonatal life impact the developing brain. Oral sweet-tasting solutions should be used judiciously to mitigate behavioral responses to mild painful procedures, keeping in mind that the long-term impact is unknown. Rapidly acting opioids should be used as part of premedication cocktails for nonemergent endotracheal intubations. Continuous low-dose morphine or dexmedetomidine may be considered for preterm or term neonates exhibiting signs of stress during mechanical ventilation and therapeutic hypothermia, respectively. Further research is required regarding the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety, and efficacy of pharmacologic agents used to mitigate mild, moderate, and chronic pain and stress in neonates.

Assessment and Management of Pain in Preterm Infants: A Practice Update

Infants born preterm are at a high risk for repeated pain exposure in early life. Despite valid tools to assess pain in non-verbal infants and effective interventions to reduce pain associated with medical procedures required as part of their care, many infants receive little to no pain-relieving interventions. Moreover, parents remain significantly underutilized in provision of pain-relieving interventions, despite the known benefit of their involvement. This narrative review provides an overview of the consequences of early exposure to untreated pain in preterm infants, recommendations for a standardized approach to pain assessment in preterm infants, effectiveness of non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic pain-relieving interventions, and suggestions for greater active engagement of parents in the pain care for their preterm infant.

The Effect of Skin-to-Skin Contact on Postoperative Depression and Physical Recovery of Parturients after Cesarean Section in Obstetrics and Gynecology Department

The effect of skin-to-skin contact (SSC) on postpartum depression and physical rehabilitation of cesarean section women was explored. 280 parturients undergoing cesarean section were selected and were rolled into two groups randomly. The parturients in the control group (Con group, 140 cases) received routine care, and those in the experimental group (Exp group, 140 cases) received SSC on the basis of routine care. The postpartum depression and physical recovery of parturients in two groups were compared. It was found that, in the Exp group, the number of pregnant women with no or with very mild depression was much more 85% vs. 55%), the number of women with adequate lactation was more (53 cases vs. 27 cases), the first lactation time (FLT) was dramatically shorter (41.25 ± 4.81 h vs. 58.43 ± 5.43 h), the breastfeeding success rate (BFSR) and breastfeeding rate (BFR) were obvious higher, the days for uterine involution was much shorter (6.96 ± 1.13 days vs. 9.47 ± 1.75 days), the descent of uterine fundus 24 hours after delivery (24 h-DUF) was obviously larger (3.17 ± 0.26 mm vs. 1.56 ± 0.43 mm), the duration of lochia (DOL) was remarkably shorter (33.21 ± 5.32 days vs. 25.32 ± 3.54 days), and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score was lower (4.88 ± 0.32 points vs. 3.41 ± 0.53 points), showing statistical differences for all above indicators (P < 0.05). It suggested that SSC could effectively relieve the postpartum depression of uterine parturients, promote the lactation, increase the BFR, facilitate uterine involution, and alleviate chronic uterine inflammation and postpartum pain, showing high clinical application and promotion value.

Effects of Kangaroo Mother Care in the NICU on the Physiological Stress Parameters of Premature Infants: A Meta-Analysis of RCTs

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to analyze the randomised controlled trials that explored the effect of kangaroo mother care on physiological stress parameters of premature infants.

METHODS

Two independent researchers performed a systematic review of indexed studies in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane and Scopus. We included data from randomized controlled trials measuring the effects of kangaroo care compared to standard incubator care on physiological stress outcomes, defined as oxygen saturation, body temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate. The PRISMA model was used to conduct data extraction. We performed a narrative synthesis of all studies and a meta-analysis when data were available from multiple studies that compared the same physiological parameters with the kangaroo method as an intervention and controls and used the same outcome measures.

RESULTS

Twelve studies were eligible for inclusion in this meta-analysis. According to statistical analysis, the mean respiratory rate of preterm infants receiving KMC was lower than that of infants receiving standard incubator care (MD, -3.50; 95% CI, -5.17 to -1.83; p < 0.00001). Infants who received kangaroo mother care had a higher mean heart rate, oxygen saturation and temperature, although these results were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence suggests that kangaroo care in the neonatal intensive care unit setting is a safe method that may have a significant effect on some of the physiological parameters of stress in preterm infants. However, due to clinical heterogeneity, further studies are needed to assess the effects of physiological stress in the neonatal intensive care unit on the development of preterm infants.

Classification of Individual Pain Response Trajectories Following Medically Indicated Heel Lances in Preterm Infants During Their NICU Admission

OBJECTIVES

Infants born preterm are exposed to repeated painful procedures during neonatal intensive care unit admission. Particularly in preterm infants, trajectories of pain response are not well understood. The aim of this study was to classify pain response trajectories over 2 minute following medically indicated heel lances in preterm infants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study used existing clinical trial data (NCT01561547) that evaluated the efficacy of kangaroo care and sucrose for infant pain control. Pain was measured using the Premature Infant Pain Profile at 30, 60, 90, and 120 seconds following a heel lance. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to classify pain response in this 2 minute period.

RESULTS

A total of 236 infants with median gestational age of 33 weeks contributed 610 procedures. A model with 5 trajectory classes best fit the data. Three trajectories were stable over time at different levels of intensity from low-mild to low-moderate pain. One trajectory reflected a linear reduction from high-moderate to low-moderate pain. The final trajectory showed variable moderate-high pain. At all times points, 3 classes were at least 1-point different from the overall sample mean pain score. Only 21 (9%) infants maintained the same class for all 3 procedures.

DISCUSSION

In this sample of preterm infants receiving pain relief, most pain trajectories reflected mild to low-moderate pain that was stable over 2 minute after heel lance initiation. Trajectories were not consistent over multiple procedures within infants, and an overall mean pain score for the sample may misrepresent subgroups of pain response.

Psychosocial and Neurobiological Vulnerabilities of the Hospitalized Preterm Infant and Relevant Non-pharmacological Pain Mitigation Strategies

Background: Preterm pain is common in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), with multiple invasive procedures occurring daily. Objective: To review the psychosocial and neurobiological vulnerabilities of preterm infants and to provide an updated overview of non-pharmacological strategies for acute procedural pain in hospitalized preterm infants. Methods: We utilized a narrative review methodology, which also included a synthesis of key pieces of published systematic reviews that are relevant to the current work. Results and Conclusions: Preterm infants are uniquely susceptible to the impact of painful procedures and prolonged separation from caregivers that are often inherent in a NICU stay. Non-pharmacological interventions can be efficacious for mitigating procedural pain for preterm infants. Interventions should continue to be evaluated with high quality randomized controlled trials, and should endeavor to take into account the neurobiological and psychosocial aspects of preterm vulnerability for pain prevention and management strategies.

Revisions to the IASP definition of pain-What does this mean for children?

The complexity of the phenomenon of pain defies a simple and straightforward definition. Acute, chronic, nociplastic and neuropathic pain account for multiple pathologic mechanisms and forms of expression. Pain varies widely in intensity, duration and nature, often complicating description for those who are experiencing the pain and/ or those who are observing it. Assessment of pain in children can be challenging, especially in those who may be incapable of self-report report due to development immaturity or disability. In these children the responsibility of assessing pain often falls to the professional or lay care provider, whose knowledge, expertise and beliefs influence their judgements. The experience of pain includes not only the physiologic and behavioural indicators most frequently included in pain assessment measures but also encompasses the social and cognitive components that often go unrecognized. The 1979 IASP definition of pain has been praised for its brevity, simplicity and attention to the multidimensional nature of the phenomenon. It has also been criticized for ignoring mind-body interactions, disempowering and neglecting vulnerable populations, paying little attention to ethical dimensions, and excluding cognitive and social factors that are integral to the experience of pain. After four decades, the 1979 definition of pain and the accompanying notes were evaluated and revised by a 14-member IASP presidential task force with representation from basic and clinical research, geographical location and populations served (Pain, 2020, 161, 1976). These revisions resulted in decreasing the emphasis of pain associated with tissue damage in the definition, and, by removing the word 'described', allowing those who were nonverbal to be assessed using other validated pain indicators. Important revisions were also made to the Notes. The revisions that are most relevant for pain in children are discussed.

Effects of Kangaroo Mother Care on Repeated Procedural Pain and Cerebral Oxygenation in Preterm Infants

OBJECTIVE

 The study aimed to investigate the effects of kangaroo mother care (KMC) on repeated procedural pain and cerebral oxygenation in preterm infants.

STUDY DESIGN

 Preterm infants of 31 to 33 weeks of gestational age were randomly divided into an intervention group (n = 36) and a control group (n = 37). Premature infant pain profile (PIPP) scores, heart rate, oxygen saturation, regional cerebral tissue oxygenation saturation (rcSO₂), and cerebral fractional tissue oxygen extraction (cFTOE) were evaluated during repeated heel stick procedures. Each heel stick procedure included three phases: baseline, blood collection, and recovery. KMC was given to the intervention group 30 minutes before baseline until the end of the recovery phase.

RESULTS

 Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed lower PIPP scores and heart rates, higher oxygen saturation, and rcSO₂ from the blood collection to recovery phases during repeated heel sticks. Moreover, there were significant changes in cFTOE for the control group, but not the intervention group associated with repeated heel stick procedures.

CONCLUSION

 The analgesic effect of KMC is sustained over repeated painful procedures in preterm infants, and it is conducive to stabilizing cerebral oxygenation, which may protect the development of brain function.

KEY POINTS

· KMC stabilizes cerebral oxygenation during repeated heel sticks in preterm infants.. · The analgesic effect of KMC is sustained over repeated painful procedures in preterm infants.. · KMC may protect the development of brain function..

State of the Art in Parent-Delivered Pain-Relieving Interventions in Neonatal Care: A Scoping Review

Introduction: Parents' active involvement during painful procedures is considered a critical first step in improving neonatal pain practices. Of the non-pharmacological approaches in use, the biopsychosocial perspective supports parent-delivered interventions, in which parents themselves mediate pain relief, consistent with modern family-integrated care. This scoping review synthesizes the available research to provide an overview of the state of the art in parent-delivered pain-relieving interventions. Methods: A scoping review was performed to achieve a broad understanding of the current level of evidence and uptake of parent-driven pain- and stress-relieving interventions in neonatal care. Results: There is a strong evidence for the efficacy of skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding, preferably in combination. These parent-delivered interventions are safe, valid, and ready for prompt introduction in infants' pain care globally. Research into parents' motivations for, and experiences of, alleviating infant pain is scarce. More research on combined parent-delivered pain alleviation, including relationship-based interventions such as the parent's musical presence, is needed to advance infant pain care. Guidelines need to be updated to include infant pain management, parent-delivered interventions, and the synergistic effects of combining these interventions and to address parent involvement in low-income and low-tech settings. Conclusions: A knowledge-to-practice gap currently remains in parent-delivered pain management for infants' procedure-related pain. This scoping review highlights the many advantages of involving parents in pain management for the benefit not only of the infant and parent but also of health care.

[Pediatric pain treatment and prevention for hospitalized children]

INTRODUCTION

Prevention and treatment of pain in pediatric patients compared with adults is often not only inadequate but also less often implemented the younger the children are. Children 0 to 17 years are a vulnerable population.

OBJECTIVES

To address the prevention and treatment of acute and chronic pain in children, including pain caused by needles, with recommended analgesic starting doses.

METHODS

This Clinical Update elaborates on the 2019 IASP Global Year Against Pain in the Vulnerable "Factsheet Pain in Children: Management" and reviews best evidence and practice.

RESULTS

Multimodal analgesia may include pharmacology (eg, basic analgesics, opioids, and adjuvant analgesia), regional anesthesia, rehabilitation, psychological approaches, spirituality, and integrative modalities, which act synergistically for more effective acute pediatric pain control with fewer side effects than any single analgesic or modality. For chronic pain, an interdisciplinary rehabilitative approach, including physical therapy, psychological treatment, integrative mind-body techniques, and normalizing life, has been shown most effective. For elective needle procedures, such as blood draws, intravenous access, injections, or vaccination, overwhelming evidence now mandates that a bundle of 4 modalities to eliminate or decrease pain should be offered to every child every time: (1) topical anesthesia, eg, lidocaine 4% cream, (2) comfort positioning, eg, skin-to-skin contact for infants, not restraining children, (3) sucrose or breastfeeding for infants, and (4) age-appropriate distraction. A deferral process (Plan B) may include nitrous gas analgesia and sedation.

CONCLUSION

Failure to implement evidence-based pain prevention and treatment for children in medical facilities is now considered inadmissible and poor standard of care.

The effect of preventive use of hydrolyzed protein formula milk on gastrointestinal diseases and physical development of premature infants: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Because of the controversy in clinical nutritional support therapy of hydrolyzed protein formula milk and standard preterm infant formula (SPIF) in premature infants. In this study, the effectiveness and safety of preventive use of hydrolyzed protein formula milk in reducing gastrointestinal diseases and promoting physical development of premature infants are scientifically evaluated by systematic evaluation. To help find the suitable nutritional support for premature infants.

METHODS

To search the database of Chinese and English by computer: SinoMed, CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, PubMed, EMbase and The Cochrane Library, and to collect randomized controlled trials on the application of hydrolyzed protein formula milk in nutritional support treatment of premature infants compared with SPIF. The retrieval time limit is from the establishment of each database to September 1, 2020. Two authors independently completed the paper search, and sorting out the main outcome indicator and secondary outcome indicator in the selected literature, and the data are statistically analyzed by Review Manager software (RevManV.5.3.0) and STATA 13.0.

RESULTS

This study will provide a high-quality evidence on the effects of hydrolyzed protein formula milk on gastrointestinal diseases and physical development of premature infants.

CONCLUSION

At present, the clinicians are controversial about the safety and effectiveness of hydrolyzed protein formula milk and SPIF in the nutritional support therapy of premature infants. This study will compare the effectiveness and safety of these 2 nutritional support methods, and make a comprehensive analysis of the influence of hydrolyzed protein formula milk on gastrointestinal diseases and physical development of premature infants, and finally give a positive conclusion.

OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER

DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/UQD92.

The Effect of Caregiver-Facilitated Pain Management Interventions in Hospitalized Patients on Patient, Caregiver, Provider, and Health System Outcomes: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT

Alternative pain management interventions involving caregivers may be valuable adjuncts to conventional pain management interventions.

OBJECTIVES

Use systematic review methodology to examine caregiver-facilitated pain management interventions in a hospital setting and whether they improve patient, caregiver, provider, or health system outcomes.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Scopus databases from inception to April 2020. Original research on caregiver-facilitated pain management interventions in hospitalized settings (i.e., any age) were included and categorized into three caregiver engagement strategies: inform (e.g., pain education), activate (e.g., prompt caregiver action), and collaborate (encourage caregiver's interaction with providers).

RESULTS

Of 61 included studies, most investigated premature (n = 27 of 61; 44.3%) and full-term neonates (n = 19 of 61; 31.1%). Interventions were classified as activate (n = 46 of 61; 75.4%), inform-activate-collaborate (n = 6 of 61; 9.8%), inform-activate (n = 5 of 61; 8.2%), activate-collaborate (n = 3 of 61; 4.9%), or inform (n = 1 of 61; 1.6%) caregiver engagement strategies. Interventions that included an activate engagement strategy improved pain outcomes in adults (18-64 years) (e.g., self-reported pain, n = 4 of 5; 80%) and neonates (e.g., crying, n = 32 of 41; 73.0%) but not children or older adults (65 years and older). Caregiver outcomes (e.g., pain knowledge) were improved by inform-activate engagement strategies (n = 3 of 3). Interventions did not improve provider (e.g., satisfaction) or health system (e.g., hospital length of stay) outcomes. Most studies were of low (n = 36 of 61; 59.0%) risk of bias.

CONCLUSION

Caregiver-facilitated pain management interventions using an activate engagement strategy may be effective in reducing pain of hospitalized neonates. Caregiver-facilitated pain management interventions improved pain outcomes in most adult studies; however, the number of studies of adults is small warranting caution pending further studies.

Neonatal pain: A journey spanning three decades

From 1980 into present day, 2020, the evolution of neonatal pain research is told as a journey by one researcher, Celeste Johnston. At the beginning of her work, there was essentially no interest or work in the area. She was fortunate to be led into the area by a clinical problem: how to determine the amount of pain babies in the NICU were experiencing. That question resulted in over three decades of work with neonates. Measuring pain was the first challenge and is one that remains a focus of current research. Initially, the only choices for treating pain in neonates were either opioids or anesthetics, each with problems. Research on sweet taste and more recently on skin‐to‐skin contact has offered effective and safe options for procedural pain. Although progress has been made in the incidence of pain management in infants, it still is far less than it could be. Steps along the way of measurement, treatment, and knowledge utilization are chronicled by this researcher.

The effect of facilitated tucking position during painful procedure in pain management of preterm infants in neonatal intensive care unit: a systematic review and meta-analysis

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effects of facilitated tucking position during painful procedure in pain management of preterm infants. We searched MEDLINE, PEDro, SciELO and the Cochrane Library (until June 2019) for randomized controlled trials. An α value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Heterogeneity among studies was examined with Cochran's Q and I² statistic, in which values greater than 40% were considered indicative of high heterogeneity and random-effects model was chosen. Analyses were performed with Review Manager 5.3. Fifteen studies met the eligibility criteria, including 664 preterm infants. The meta-analyses showed a significant reduction in pain of - 1.02 (95% CI - 1.7 to - 0.4, N = 216) during endotraqueal suctioning for participants in the facilitated tucking position group (FTPG) compared with routine care group. The meta-analyses showed a non-significant difference in pain - 0.3 (95% CI - 2.05 to - 1.4, N = 88) during heel stick for participants in the FTPG compared with oral glucose group. The meta-analyses showed a non-significant difference in pain for participants in the FTPG compared with oral opioid group 0.2 (95% CI - 1.4 to 1.8, N = 140).Conclusion: Facilitated tucking position may improve the pain during painful procedures.What is Known:• Exposure of premature babies to painful procedures is associated with changes in brain development, regardless of other factors.• Facilitated tucking reduces the expression of pain in premature infants.What is New:• Facilitated tucking position was efficient in pain management of preterm infants when compared to routine care.• Facilitated tucking compared to opioid or oral glucose did not achieve a significant reduction in pain intensity.

Pediatric pain treatment and prevention for hospitalized children

Introduction:

Prevention and treatment of pain in pediatric patients compared with adults is often not only inadequate but also less often implemented the younger the children are. Children 0 to 17 years are a vulnerable population.

Objectives:

To address the prevention and treatment of acute and chronic pain in children, including pain caused by needles, with recommended analgesic starting doses.

Methods:

This Clinical Update elaborates on the 2019 IASP Global Year Against Pain in the Vulnerable “Factsheet Pain in Children: Management” and reviews best evidence and practice.

Results:

Multimodal analgesia may include pharmacology (eg, basic analgesics, opioids, and adjuvant analgesia), regional anesthesia, rehabilitation, psychological approaches, spirituality, and integrative modalities, which act synergistically for more effective acute pediatric pain control with fewer side effects than any single analgesic or modality. For chronic pain, an interdisciplinary rehabilitative approach, including physical therapy, psychological treatment, integrative mind–body techniques, and normalizing life, has been shown most effective. For elective needle procedures, such as blood draws, intravenous access, injections, or vaccination, overwhelming evidence now mandates that a bundle of 4 modalities to eliminate or decrease pain should be offered to every child every time: (1) topical anesthesia, eg, lidocaine 4% cream, (2) comfort positioning, eg, skin-to-skin contact for infants, not restraining children, (3) sucrose or breastfeeding for infants, and (4) age-appropriate distraction. A deferral process (Plan B) may include nitrous gas analgesia and sedation.

Conclusion:

Failure to implement evidence-based pain prevention and treatment for children in medical facilities is now considered inadmissible and poor standard of care.