Training program for pain assessment in the newborn

Aim

Pain management is correlated with pain assessment in the newborn infant. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a 2-week training program composed of short (20 min), repeated training sessions conducted in the unit.

Methods

Pain assessment was studied by means of audits. Each audit included data recorded from the newborn infant's medical charts on the day the infant was admitted to the unit and 3 days before the audit. An audit was performed before the training program and then repeated every month for 12 months.

Results

Eighty-eight (53.7%) members of the neonatology staff were trained during the 2-week training program. After the training program, pain assessment “at least once a day” increased by 39.0% and pain assessment “at least once a shift” increased by 21.5% compared to baseline (P < 0.05). The effects of the training program were maintained after 12 months (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

A training program with short, repeated sessions conducted in the unit trained 53.7% of the neonatology staff and increased the frequency of pain assessment.