Journal article
Pain Assessment Practices in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Journal of pediatric nursing, Vol.48, pp.55-62
09/01/2019
DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2019.07.005
PMID: 31325800
Abstract
Purpose: Pain assessment is the first step in managing pain; however, this can be challenging, particularly in settings such as the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). This paper reports the current pain assessment practices from a study that was conducted describing the prevalence of pain, pain assessment, painful procedures, interventions, and characteristics of critically-ill children. Specifically, this paper addresses the child's communicative ability, pain scales, and characteristics of pain.
Design and methods: The primary study was a cross-sectional, multi-site, descriptive design. Data from a 24-hour time period were collected from medical records and bedside nurses.
Results: Datawere collected from the records of 220 children across 15 PICUs. The average number of pain assessments per child was 11.5 (SD 5.8, range 1-28). Seven behavioral scales and five self-report scales were used. There were times when no scale was used, "assume pain present" was recorded, or a sedation scale was documented. Twelve pain scales, including the target population, scoring, psychometric properties, and clinical utility are described.
Conclusions: Results of this study indicate that a wide range of pain assessment tools are used, including behavioral scales for children unable to self-report. Implications: Foremost, the appropriate assessment method needs to be chosen for each child to manage pain. Knowledge of the criteria for the use of each pain assessment scale will help the clinician select the appropriate scale to use for each child. The practice of "assume pain present," as well as standardization of pain scales, and clinical support tools needs further investigation. (c) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Pain Assessment Practices in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
- Creators
- Elyse Laures - University of IowaCynthia LaFond - University of IowaKirsten Hanrahan - University of IowaNicole Pierce - University of IowaHaeyoung Min - Gyeongsang National UniversityAnn Marie McCarthy - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of pediatric nursing, Vol.48, pp.55-62
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.pedn.2019.07.005
- PMID
- 31325800
- ISSN
- 0882-5963
- eISSN
- 1532-8449
- Number of pages
- 8
- Grant note
- T32 NR011147 / Mayday Fund and Pain and Associated Symptoms: Nurse Research Training grant from the National Institutes of Health
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 09/01/2019
- Academic Unit
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Nursing; Community and Behavioral Health
- Record Identifier
- 9984370737102771
Metrics
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