Pain assessment tools in children undergoing mechanical ventilation in intensive care units Karimi Zahra1, Baraz Shahram1,*, Rashidi Mahbubeh2, Jahani Simin1, Malehi Amal Saki3 1Nursing care Research Center in Chronic Diseases, School of Nursing and Midwifery 2Dept. of Anesthesiology, Medical School 3Health Research Institute, Research Center of Thalassemia & Hemoglobinopathy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran *Correspondence author: Dr. Shahram Baraz, Nursing care Research Center in Chronic Diseases, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. Tel: 09166066849 Email: shahrambaraz@ajums.ac.ir
Online published on 13 December, 2018. Abstract Background Pain assessment and management in children continue to remain as a problem that necessitates an investigation into aggravating factors of pediatric pain. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), children still suffer from pain in hospitals and better pain prevention, assessment, and treatment measures are required. This review study intended to investigate pain assessment tools in children in intensive care units (ICU). Materials and Method This review study searched relevant articles published in Ovid, Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, Cochran, and CINAHAL databases within 2003 and 2016, using keywords of pain management, pain care, pediatric pain, and pediatric intensive care unit. Results Finally, 31 relevant articles and one book were found. Four major pain assessment tools for children in ICUs are FLACC, COMFORT-B, MAP, CAAC Scales. Conclusion Among the four major pain assessment tools, COMFORT-B is the most commonly used scale in ventilated children. It is worth noting that other tools are also effective in pediatric pain assessment and pain management in children. Top Keywords Pain Management, Pain Care, Pediatric Pain, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Top |