A reliable pain assessment tool for clinical assessment in the neonatal intensive care unit

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to validate a clinician-friendly pain assessment tool for all groups of critically ill infants cared for in the specific neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) studied. DESIGN: A prospective study was undertaken to test the Pain Assessment Tool (PAT). Interrater reliability of the PAT score was assessed by two nurses who simultaneously determined an infant's PAT score. The PAT was validated against the CRIES score--crying, requires increased oxygen administration, increased vital signs, expression, sleeplessness--and the mother's assessment of her infant's discomfort using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). SETTING: The NICUs at two children's hospitals. PAT..