Pain assessment tools for use in infants: a meta-review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Identifying pain in infants is challenging due to their inability to self-report pain, therefore the availability of valid and reliable means of assessing pain is critical.

Objective

This meta-review sought to identify evidence that could guide the selection of appropriate tools in this vulnerable population.

Methods

We searched Scopus, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, MIDRIS, EMCare and Google Scholar for eligible systematic reviews. Eligible reviews documented psychometric properties of available observational tools used to assess pain in infants.

Results

A total of 516 reviews were identified of which 11 met our inclusion criteria. We identified 36 pain assessment tools (evaluated in 11 reviews) of which seven were reported in at least three reviews. The

SUBMITTER: Arabiat D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10278280 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature