A protocol to develop a standard guideline for neonatal pain management

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Clinical guideline development
• Pain management

Background:

• Hospitalized newborns frequently undergo painful procedures, leading to adverse physical and psychosocial effects.
• Effective pain management in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) requires high-quality, evidence-based guidelines.
• Chinese neonatal care providers need a tailored guideline for managing neonatal pain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the methodology for developing a standard neonatal pain management guideline for China.
• To provide empirical support and safety guarantees for clinical practice in managing neonatal pain.
• To adapt World Health Organization (WHO) principles for guideline development.

Main Methods:

• Following WHO principles for standard guideline formulation.
• Establishing guideline working groups and defining scope.
• Selecting clinical questions, conducting systematic reviews, and grading evidence quality.
• Formulating recommendations and reaching consensus.

Main Results:

• The developed protocol ensures a normative, scientific, and transparent guideline development process.
• The guideline will be based on high-quality evidence and tailored to the Chinese healthcare system.
• Registration number: IPGRP-2021CN044 at the International Practice Guidelines Registry Platform.

Conclusions:

• The outlined protocol facilitates the creation of a robust neonatal pain management guideline.
• This evidence-based guideline will empower NICU caregivers in China to effectively manage neonatal pain.
• Improved pain management in NICUs contributes to better neonatal health outcomes.