Factors affecting neonatal pain management

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Managing neonatal pain is an important issue in neonatal cares. This was a prospective survey on perception of pain management among medical professions in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Methods/Statistical analysis: The subjects were 14 physicians and 78 nurses working in NICU in two university hospitals in S and Y cities in South Korea. Self-reported questionnaire were surveyed. The perception of pain, the perception about the necessity of medical treatment, and actual use of medicine for 27 mostly common painful procedures in the NICUs were measured on 5-point Likert scales. Additionally pain related characteristics such as existence and reading experience of pain management guideline and education were investigated. Findings: Among 92 staffs, 83.7% answered that they had a pain management guideline in the NICUs (57.1% of physicians vs. 88.5% of nurses,χ 2 =9.48, p=.009). Among those who had pain management guidelines, 68.5% had read them at least once, and there was a difference between professions (35.7% of physicians vs. 74.4% of nurses,χ 2 =8.21, p=.004). Also, there was a difference in the participation of pain management education (28.6% vs. 91.0%, respectively, χ 2 =30.73, p=