Effectiveness of distraction-based interventions for relieving anxiety, fear and pain in hospitalized children during venous blood sampling: a systematic review protocol.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of active compared with passive distraction-based interventions in relieving anxiety, fear, and pain in hospitalized preschool and school-age children during venous blood sampling. INTRODUCTION: Venous blood sampling remains the most common procedure that causes anxiety, fear, and pain among the pediatric population. It is important that health care professionals relieve a child's pain and the related emotions because untreated pain may have long-term effects on children's growth and development. It is necessary to determine which interventions are effective in relieving these outcomes in preschool and school-age children during blood sampling. INCLUSION CRITERIA: This review will include randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies that include active and passive distraction-based interventions for relieving hospitalized preschool and school-age children's anxiety, fear, and pain during venous blood sampling. METHODS: CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases will be searched for published studies. MedNar, Google Scholar, and PsycEXTRA databases will be searched for in-progress and unpublished studies. Two independent researchers will perform critical appraisal and data extraction using JBI methodology. Data describing randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies will be pooled in a statistical meta-analysis. If statistical analysis is not possible, the findings will be reported narratively. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach will be used to assess certainty in the quality of evidence. REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42023455617.

The competence of neonatal intensive care nurses: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to conduct a systematic review describing the competencies required from nurses working in neonatal intensive care settings. DESIGN: Systematic review. DATA SOURCES: A total of eight databases, including PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Mednar, Web of Science, ProQuest and Medic, were screened for relevant literature during February and September 2022. REVIEW METHODS: The systematic review process followed Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. The inclusion criteria were: 1) (P = population) registered nurses; 2) (C = concept) the competence; 3) (C = context) nursing in neonatal intensive care units; and 4) cross-sectional study as study method. A critical appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies from Joanna Briggs Institute was used by two independent reviewers. After data extraction, thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS: The database searches yielded a total of 8887 studies and after two independent evaluations, a total of 50 eligible studies were identified comprising of 7536 registered nurses working in neonatal intensive care units across 19 countries. The studies described four main competence themes: 1) neonatal care interventions; 2) caring for a dying infant; 3) family-centered care; and 4) neonatal intensive care interventions. CONCLUSION: Previous research has focused on evaluating specific competencies that are necessary in the neonatal intensive care setting. There is a need for research concerning the overall competence of nurses working in neonatal intensive care units. There was a lot of variety within the quality of the eligible studies and within the used instruments. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: This systematic review was registered in Prospero (PROSPERO 2022 CRD42022308028).

Effectiveness of technology-based interventions compared with other non-pharmacological interventions for relieving procedural pain in hospitalized neonates: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of technology-based interventions for relieving procedural pain among hospitalized neonates compared with other non-pharmacological interventions. INTRODUCTION: Neonates who require hospital care often experience acute pain during medical procedures. The current best practice for relieving pain in neonates is the use of non-pharmacological interventions, such as oral solutions or intervention-based human touch. Technological solutions (eg, games, eHealth applications, mechanical vibrators) have become more commonplace in pediatric pain management over recent years; however, there is a sizeable knowledge gap around how effective technology-based interventions are for relieving pain in neonates. INCLUSION CRITERIA: This review considered experimental trials that include technology-based, non-pharmacological interventions for relieving procedural pain among hospitalized neonates. The primary outcomes of interest include pain response to a procedure measured by a pain assessment scale validated for neonates, behavioral indicators, and changes in physiological indicators. METHODS: The search strategy aimed to identify both published and unpublished studies. MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MedNar, and EBSCO Open Dissertations databases were searched for studies published in English, Finnish, or Swedish. Critical appraisal and data extraction were conducted by 2 independent researchers who adhered to JBI methodology. Meta-analysis could not be performed due to considerable heterogeneity in the studies; as a result, the findings are presented narratively. RESULTS: A total of 10 randomized controlled trials involving 618 children were included in the review. The staff members delivering the interventions and the outcome assessors were not blinded in all of the studies, which introduced a potential risk of bias. The presented technology-based interventions were diverse, including laser acupuncture, noninvasive electrical stimulation of acupuncture points, robot platform, vibratory stimulation, recorded maternal voice, and recorded intrauterine voice. In the studies, pain was measured using validated pain scales, behavioral indicators, and physiological variables. In the studies in which pain was assessed with a validated pain measure (N=8), technology-based pain relief was significantly more effective than the comparator in 2 studies, whereas no statistically significant differences were observed in 4 studies and the technology-based intervention was less effective than the comparator in 2 studies. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of technology-based interventions in relieving neonatal pain, either as a standalone method or in combination with another non-pharmacological method, was mixed. Further research is needed to provide reliable evidence on which technology-based, non-pharmacological pain relief intervention is most effective for hospitalized neonates. SUPPLEMENTAL DIGITAL CONTENT: A Finnish-language version of the abstract of this review is available as supplemental digital content [ http://links.lww.com/SRX/A19 ]. REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42021254218.

Parents' perceptions of their child's pain assessment in hospital care: A cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: A prerequisite for successful pain management is identifying the pain and assessing its intensity. The aim of this study was to describe parents' perceptions of their child's pain assessment in hospital care. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was completed by parents (n = 261) whose child was hospitalized in one of the pediatric units (n = 6) of the University Hospital in Finland. Quantitative data were analyzed using statistical methods; open-ended data were analyzed using inductive content analysis. RESULTS: Parents reported that their children experienced moderate (36%) to severe pain (42%) during hospitalization. The most intense pain experienced by the children was associated with needle-related procedures (41%). A large proportion of parents (83%) were involved in their child's pain assessment. Parents were satisfied with their child's pain assessment but perceived some shortcomings. Parents hoped that a variety of methods would be used to assess their child's pain and that the parents' and child's views on pain would be taken into account. CONCLUSIONS: Most children experience moderate to severe pain during hospitalization. Parents are often involved in pain assessment but are rarely instructed to use pain scales. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Child's pain should be assessed regularly and frequently enough. It is important that the child and parents are involved in shared decision-making about pain assessment and treatment, and they have opportunities to ask questions. Guidance should be offered to parents about the use of pain assessment scales.

Effectiveness of technology-based interventions compared with other non-pharmacological interventions for relieving procedural pain in hospitalized neonates: a systematic review protocol.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of technology-based interventions in relieving procedural pain in hospitalized neonates compared with other non-pharmacological interventions. INTRODUCTION: Neonates requiring hospital care often experience acute pain during medical procedures. The current best practice for relieving pain in neonates is the use of non-pharmacological interventions, such as oral solutions or intervention-based human touch. Technological solutions (such as games, eHealth applications, and mechanical vibrators) have become more commonplace in pediatric pain management over recent years. However, there is a knowledge gap about how effective technology-based interventions are at relieving pain in neonates. INCLUSION CRITERIA: This review will consider experimental trials that include technology-based non-pharmacological interventions for relieving procedural pain in hospitalized neonates. Primary outcomes of interest include pain response to a procedure measured by a validated pain assessment scale for neonates, behavioral indicators, and/or changes in physiological indicators. METHODS: MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCO), Scopus (Elsevier), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the MEDIC databases will be searched for studies published in English, Finnish, and Swedish. Critical appraisal and data extraction will be conducted by two independent researchers following JBI methodology. Quantitative data will be pooled in statistical meta-analyses. If statistical analysis is not possible, the findings will be reported narratively. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42021254218.

Factors Influencing Parental Participation in Neonatal Pain Alleviation.

PURPOSE: Neonates are likely to experience numerous painful procedures in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Parents have expressed a wish to be more involved in their infants' pain alleviation. The purpose of this study was to describe parents' perceptions concerning the factors that influence parental participation in pain alleviation in an NICU. DESIGN AND METHODS: The qualitative study was conducted in level II and III NICUs (7 units) of Finland's four university hospitals. Data were collected through open-ended questionnaires and analyzed using inductive content analysis. RESULTS: Factors that promoted parental participation consisted of five main categories: parental counseling by staff, parents' awareness of their own role, parents' motivation to participate in pain relief, family-friendly facilities and good communication. Factors hindering parental participation consisted of eight categories, including restrictive environment, lack of knowledge, everyday life requirements, underestimation of parents, the nature of the medical procedures, procedure- and pain-related emotions, deteriorated health status of the child and mother and (8) uncertainty of parenting. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed a number of factors that are important to take into account when improving parental involvement in neonatal pain alleviation. Especially, parental participation can be promoted by providing sufficient counseling based on the parents' needs and creating facilities that support parents' participation. PRACTICE IMPLICATION: Parents should be engaged as partners in caregiving and decision making, and they should be given space to assume the role of parents during their child's hospitalization.