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Neonatal pain: Knowledge and perception among pediatric doctors in Malaysia
Shareena Ishak1, Flora Nfe1, Syed Zakaria Sz1
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Insights
Pediatric doctors in Malaysian neonatal intensive care units demonstrate good knowledge of neonatal pain but struggle with applying this knowledge in practice. Further implementation of clinical guidelines is recommended for improved pain management.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Intensive Care
- Pediatric Medicine
- Pain Management
Background:
- Inadequate pain management in neonates can lead to long-term neurodevelopmental and behavioral issues.
- Sufficient knowledge of neonatal pain is crucial for effective pain management strategies.
- This study addresses the need to assess knowledge and perceptions of neonatal pain among pediatric doctors in Malaysian NICUs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the knowledge and perception of pain in neonates requiring intensive care.
- To evaluate the understanding of neonatal pain among pediatric doctors in Malaysian level III NICUs.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted over 18 months.
- A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess knowledge and perception of neonatal pain.
- Data were collected from 423 pediatric doctors across 24 Malaysian hospitals.
Main Results:
- 47% of respondents were aware of neonatal pain assessment tools, but only 6% used them routinely.
- Doctors with over 4 years of experience showed better awareness of pain assessment tools (59.4% vs 40.9%).
- While over 80% could distinguish painful from non-painful procedures, knowledge application gaps exist.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric clinicians, particularly those with extensive experience, possess knowledge regarding neonatal pain.
- A significant gap persists between theoretical knowledge and practical application of neonatal pain management.
- Implementing clinical guidelines is recommended to enhance pain assessment quality and ensure adequate pain management in neonates.
Background:
Inadequate pain management is linked to potential neurodevelopmental and behavioral problems. Sufficient knowledge in neonatal pain is required to facilitate optimal pain management. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the knowledge and perception of pain experienced by neonates requiring intensive care among pediatric doctors working in a level III neonatal intensive care unit in Malaysian hospitals.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study conducted over a period of 18 months. A self-administered questionnaire assessing knowledge and perception regarding neonatal pain was used.
Results:
Twenty-four hospitals participated in the study, with 423 respondents. The response rate was 85%. One hundred and ninety-seven respondents (47%) were aware of tools for neonatal pain assessment, but only 6% used them in daily practice. Doctors with >4 years of experience in neonatal care had better awareness of available pain assessment tools (59.4% vs 40.9%, P = 0.001). Sixteen statements regarding knowledge were assessed. Mean score obtained was 10.5 ± 2.5. Consultants/specialists obtained a higher mean score than medical officers (11.9 vs 10.4, P < 0.001). More than 80% of respondents were able to discriminate painful from non-painful procedures.
Conclusion:
Clinicians involved in neonatal care, especially those with longer experience were knowledgeable about neonatal pain. Gaps between knowledge and its application, however, remain. Implementation of clinical guidelines to improve the quality of assessment and adequate pain management in neonates is recommended.
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