Parent-Targeted Education Regarding Infant Pain Management Delivered During the Perinatal Period: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Parental education
• Pain management

Background:

• Infant pain is a common experience, particularly during medical procedures.
• Parents express a significant need for enhanced knowledge regarding infant pain management.
• Existing educational interventions for parents on infant pain are not extensively documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically explore and map the available evidence on educational interventions for parents concerning infant pain.
• To identify the scope and nature of parent-targeted education for infant pain during the perinatal period.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review methodology was employed, adhering to the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines.
• Searches were conducted across major databases (PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, ERIC) and relevant journals.
• Included studies focused on parent-directed educational interventions for infant pain management in the perinatal period, excluding those aimed at healthcare providers or unrelated topics.

Main Results:

• Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising six quantitative, two qualitative, and one mixed-methods study.
• Interventions focused on parent-led pain management strategies for infants in neonatal intensive care units, full-term infants, or both.
• Despite parental concern, the evidence base for parent-targeted infant pain education is notably sparse.

Conclusions:

• There is a significant gap in research addressing parent-targeted educational interventions for infant pain management.
• Further investigation is crucial to evaluate the impact and efficacy of such interventions on parental and neonatal outcomes.
• Future research should focus on developing and assessing effective educational strategies to empower parents in managing infant pain.