Closing the evidence-practice gap for newborn pain using clinical networks

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Evidence-based practice
• Pain management

Background:

• A significant evidence-practice gap exists in managing newborn pain within Australian neonatal units.
• The Australian New Zealand Neonatal Network initiated a project to address this gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a process for implementing evidence into practice for newborn pain management.
• To reduce the gap between current practices and evidence-based guidelines for neonatal pain.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an implementation model involving a clinical network with facilitators and local champions across 24 tertiary and 6 district hospitals.
• Employed audit and feedback, benchmarking, and educational workshops on critical appraisal and family awareness of pain.
• Collected diverse data to evaluate changes in pain management practices.

Main Results:

• Achieved a 21% improvement in the use of breastfeeding or sucrose for procedural pain, though breastfeeding remains underutilized.
• Increased the use of pain assessment tools from 14% to 22%, with 56% of units adopting them.
• Enhanced family awareness of infant pain and management strategies, rising from 19% to 57%.

Conclusions:

• The evidence uptake program successfully evaluated procedural pain management in neonates.
• Demonstrated that a coordinated program with facilitation and local champions can drive practice change in neonatal units.