Title

An Educational Intervention to Improve Pain Assessment in Preverbal Children

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-2014

Publication Title

Pediatric Nursing

Volume

Volume 40

Issue

Issue 6

Abstract

Problem: Pediatric nurses often use an inappropriate tool to assess pain in children younger than 36 months of age. Objective: This intervention intended to improve the nursing practice of assessing pain in preverbal (less than 36 months of age) children. Methods: Pain assessment frequency and use of a pain assessment pediatric tool use was evaluated pre- and post-intervention via a retrospective chart review and a survey of pediatric nurses. Parametric and non-parametric statistical tests were used to determine significant differences between pre- and post-intervention data for both approaches. Results: The chart review data showed a significant increase in the number of times pain was assessed and documented post-educational intervention. Similarly, the survey data analysis showed a significant post-intervention increase in the use of a pain assessment tool and that most nurses used the FLACC pain assessment tool when assessing pain in preverbal children. Conclusion: Educating staff nurses about the use of an appropriate pain assessment scale altered practice and improved the frequency of pain assessment of preverbal children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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