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Pain Management in Paediatric Critical Care: A Cross-Sectional Study
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Pain Management in Paediatric Critical Care: A Cross-Sectional Study

Elyse Laures, Cynthia LaFond and Ann Marie McCarthy
Nursing in critical care, Vol.31(1), e70327
01/2026
DOI: 10.1111/nicc.70327
PMID: 41557461
url
https://doi.org/10.1111/nicc.70327View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Up to 24% of children admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) experience moderate to severe pain. Nurses have the ethical responsibility to manage pain, which is often challenging due to a wide range of age, developmental ability, medical diseases and complex medical equipment. Limited research has been done, specifically in the PICU, related to pain management practices and barriers and facilitators. The purpose of this study is to describe PICU nurses' current pain assessment and analgesic premedication practices, in addition to facilitators and barriers to pain management. This study is a secondary analysis of a previous cross-sectional study. PICU nurses were asked to complete a survey regarding their pain assessment practices, premedication practices, perceptions of patient behaviours indicative of pain and barriers and facilitators. A total of 106 nurses responded. It was found that nurses more routinely use behavioural assessment scales compared to self-report and do not regularly attempt to obtain a self-report for those who are mechanically ventilated. The decision to premedicate prior to a painful procedure was variable. Nurses found only four patient behaviours as most commonly indicating pain. Lastly, facilitators were perceived more commonly present than barriers, with nurses valuing having a designated charting system and standardised assessment tools. Overall, there is a need to leverage facilitators and minimise barriers to successfully implement evidence-based pain management practices. Future research in the creation of clinician support tools, following the principles of implementation science, is needed. Understanding current pain management practices better enables frontline nurses, educators and leaders to identify, implement and sustain evidence-based pain management improvements.
 Adult Analgesics - therapeutic use Child Critical Care - methods Critical Care Nursing Cross-Sectional Studies Female Humans Intensive Care Units, Pediatric Male Pain Management - methods Pain Management - nursing Pain Measurement - nursing Pediatric Nursing Surveys and Questionnaires

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