Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026
Electrophysiological Measurement of Noxious-evoked Brain Activity in Neonates Using a Flat-tip Probe Coupled to Electroencephalography
Published on: November 29, 2017
Pain assessment and measurement in neonates: an updated review
Xiaomei Cong1, Jacqueline M McGrath, Regina M Cusson
1School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs (Drs Cong, McGrath, and Cusson and Ms Zhang); and Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford (Dr McGrath).
Insights
Accurate infant pain assessment and measurement are crucial for effective pain management. This review summarizes current infant pain scales, aiding clinicians in selecting appropriate tools for better pain control in infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Pain Management
- Clinical Assessment
Background:
- Pain assessment and measurement are fundamental to effective pain management.
- Pain assessment involves a multidimensional description, while pain measurement provides quantitative data.
- Pain scales offer composite scores vital for guiding clinical practice and research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and summarize existing infant pain measurement instruments.
- To introduce a conceptual framework for infant pain measurement.
- To guide clinicians in selecting appropriate infant pain assessment tools.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of over 40 infant pain instruments.
- Analysis of the conceptual framework for pain measurement.
- Evaluation of instrument applicability in clinical practice.
Main Results:
- Numerous infant pain instruments exist, with many developed primarily for research.
- Significant overlap is observed among newly developed and existing instruments.
- Effective integration of pain management tools into daily clinical practice remains a challenge.
Conclusions:
- Understanding how different infant pain instruments function is key for informed clinical decision-making.
- Selecting the right instrument depends on the infant and specific clinical circumstances.
- Further validation of novel infant pain measurement techniques is necessary.
Abstract:
Pain assessment and measurement are the cornerstones of pain management. Pain assessment connotes a comprehensive multidimensional description. Conversely, pain measurement provides a numeric quantitative description of each factor illustrating pain qualities. Pain scales provide a composite score used to guide practice and research. The type of infant pain instrument chosen is a significant factor in guiding pain management practice. The purpose of this review was to summarize current infant pain measures by introducing a conceptual framework for pain measurement. Although more than 40 infant pain instruments exist, many were devised solely for research purposes; several of the newly developed instruments largely overlap with existing instruments. Integration of pain management into daily practice remains problematic. Understanding how each instrument measures infant pain allows clinicians to make better decisions about what instrument to use with which infant and in what circumstances. In addition, novel new measurement techniques need further testing.
