Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
A Preterm Rat Model for Pain Studies
Published on: February 9, 2024
Implementation and case-study results of potentially better practices to improve pain management of neonates
Alston E Dunbar1, Paul J Sharek, Nick A Mickas
1Division of Neonatology, Woman's Hospital, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. trey.dunbar@infamedics.com
Insights
Collaborative quality improvement enhanced infant pain management in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). This approach led to the successful implementation of better practices and measurable improvements in neonatal pain care.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Quality improvement science
- Pain management
Background:
- Neonatal pain management requires standardized, evidence-based practices.
- Quality improvement collaboratives offer a framework for enhancing clinical care.
- Implementing best practices in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) presents unique challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of collaborative quality improvement techniques in enhancing neonatal pain management.
- To present case studies illustrating the implementation of potentially better practices in NICUs.
- To identify barriers and facilitators to improving pain and sedation practices in neonates.
Main Methods:
- Twelve NICUs participated in the Neonatal Intensive Care Quality Improvement Collaborative 2002.
- Centers focused on improving neonatal pain and sedation practices.
- Evidence-based practices were implemented using plan-do-study-act cycles and performance tracking.
Main Results:
- Implementation strategies were tailored to local NICU characteristics.
- Participating centers identified and overcame implementation barriers.
- Measurable improvements in neonatal pain management were observed following the implementation of potentially better practices.
Conclusions:
- Collaborative quality improvement effectively enhanced local quality improvement initiatives.
- The collaborative model facilitated the successful adoption of potentially better practices in NICUs.
- This approach demonstrated a positive impact on neonatal pain management outcomes.
Objective:
Collaborative quality improvement techniques were used to facilitate local quality improvement in the management of pain in infants. Several case studies are presented to highlight this process.
Methods:
Twelve NICUs in the Neonatal Intensive Care Quality Improvement Collaborative 2002 focused on improving neonatal pain management and sedation practices. These centers developed and implemented evidence-based potentially better practices for pain management and sedation in neonates. The group introduced changes through plan-do-study-act cycles and tracked performance measures throughout the process.
Results:
Strategies for implementing potentially better practices varied between centers on the basis of local characteristics. Individual centers identified barriers to implementation, developed tools for improvement, and shared their experience with the collaborative. Baseline data from the 12 sites revealed substantial opportunities for improved pain management, and local potentially better practice implementation resulted in measurable improvements in pain management at participating centers.
Conclusions:
The use of collaborative quality improvement techniques enhanced local quality improvement efforts and resulted in effective implementation of potentially better practices at participating centers.
