Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Pain assessment in nonverbal children with severe cognitive impairments: the Individualized Numeric Rating Scale
Jean Solodiuk1, Martha A Q Curley
1Pain Treatment Service, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. jean.solodiuk@TCH.harvard.edu
Insights
This study adapted a pain assessment tool for nonverbal children with cognitive impairments. Evidence-based practices were used to improve pain management for this vulnerable population.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Pain Management
- Evidence-Based Practice
Background:
- Children's Hospital Boston implemented a pain assessment and management initiative.
- Initiative focused on evidence-based knowledge application for nursing staff.
- Goal was to systematically develop and assess interventions for specific patient needs.
Observation:
- This article details an evidence-based pain assessment project.
- Project focused on nonverbal children with cognitive impairments.
- Literature review and benchmarking analysis informed the project.
Findings:
- An adapted, existing pain assessment tool was piloted.
- The tool was tailored for assessing pain in nonverbal children with cognitive impairments.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of population-specific pain assessment tools.
- Demonstrates application of evidence-based practice in pediatric nursing.
- Contributes to improving pain management standards for vulnerable children.
Abstract:
Children's Hospital Boston began a major pain assessment and management initiative 3 years ago: Pain assessment and management are considered one of the institution's primary standards of care. The initiative included State of the Science meetings with internationally renowned nursing pain researchers and clinicians. These meetings generated nursing staff interest in specific applications of what is known about pain; how evidence-based knowledge can be used to ask population-specific clinical questions; and how an evidence-based approach can be applied to systematically develop, implement, and assess interventions that suit a population's clinical needs. This article is an example of an evidence-based pain assessment project at Children's Hospital Boston that focused on nonverbal children with cognitive impairments. After developing a clinical question, the authors did a literature review and a benchmarking analysis of best practice. The pilot of an adapted, existing pain assessment tool is described in this article.
