How to assess infants pain experiences

How to assess infants pain experiences?

Valid and reliable pain assessment tools for infants and preverbal children are actually indirect measures of pain. Because these tools rely on observed behaviors and physiologic measures, they do not measure pain intensity but rather quantify responses to pain-related distress. Scores from these tools are influenced by contextual factors, such as gestational age and physiologic stability. Therefore pain assessment tools for infants and preverbal children are most reliable for procedural pain, rather than ongoing chronic pain assessments. These validated behavioral pain assessment tools should always be considered as proxy pain measures to be interpreted based on expected or potential tissue damage.

Tools for Assessing Pain of Infants and Preverbal Children

TOOL (ACRONYM) AND REFERENCE (YEAR)AGE RANGETYPE OF PAINPARAMETERS
Children’s and Infants’ Postoperative Pain Scale (CHIPPS)
Bringuier et al. (2009); Buttner and Finke (2000)
Birth to 5 yearsAcute, postopScored from 0 to 10:
• Cry• Facial• Leg posture motor/restlessness• Trunk poster
COMFORT Behavior Scale
de Jong et al. (2010); van Dijk et al. (2000, 2005)
Neonates to 3 yearsAcute, intensive care postopUsed to assess distress, sedation, and pain.
Scored from 8 to 40:
• Alertness• Blood pressure• Calmness• Facial tension• Heart rate• Muscle tone• Physical movement• Respiratory distress
Also valid without physiologic parameters (COMFORT B).
Crying, Requires oxygen, Increased vital signs, Expression, and Sleeplessness (CRIES)
Ahn and Jun (2007); Krechel and Bildner (1995)
NeonatesAcute, intensive care procedural, post-opScored from 0 to 10:
• Crying• Requires oxygen—oxygenation• Increased vital signs, Expression• Sleeplessness
Distress Scale for Ventilated Newborn Infants (DSVNI)
Sparshott (1996)
Ventilated, neonates and infantsAcute, intensive care proceduralSum of four physiologic parameters:
• Blood pressure• Heart rate• Oxygen saturation• Temperature differentialAnd three behavioral parameters:• Body movements• Facial expressions
Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability Observational Tool (FLACC)
Ahn and Jun (2007); Manworren and Hynan (2003); Merkel et al. (1997); Voepel-Lewis et al. (2002, 2010); Willis et al. (2003)
0–3 years, Up to 7 years in post-anesthesia care unitAcute, procedural, postop, disease-relatedScored from 0 to 10:
• Faces• Legs• Activity• Cry• Consolability
Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS)
Lawrence et al. (1993)
Preterm and term infantsScored 0 to 7:
• Breathing pattern• Crying• Facial expression• Movement of arms and/or legs• State of arousal
Neonatal Pain, Agitation, and Sedation Scale (N-PASS)
Hummel et al. (2008); Hummel et al. (2010)
Premature neonates 23–40 weeks gestationProcedural and postop during mechanical ventilation neonatal intensive care unitUsed to assess sedation and pain.
Scored from −2 to +2 for each parameter:
• Behavior• Cry• Extremity tone• Facial expression• Vital signs
in the context of gestational age.
Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) and Premature Infant Pain Profile—Revised (PIPP-R)
Ahn and Jun (2007); Gibbins et al. (PIPP-R, 2014); Stevens et al. (1996); Stevens et al. (2010)
Premature and term neonatesProcedural and postop in neonatal intensive care unitScored from 0 to 21:
• Brow bulge• Eye squeeze• Heart rate• Nasolabial furrow• Oxygen saturation in the context of gestational age and behavioral state.

As children gain control over their ability to express themselves verbally and control their behaviors, behavioral tools become inappropriate for assessing their pain. Toddlers can report the presence and location of pain, adopting words learned to express pain and pain location from their parents and caregivers. As children develop more complex verbal skills and cognitive understanding, they also develop a more diverse pain vocabulary.

15585

Sign up to receive the trending updates and tons of Health Tips

Join SeekhealthZ and never miss the latest health information

15856