To Örebro University

Background/ObjectiveHospitalized neonates are subjected to a high number of painful procedures every day. Cumulative poorly treated pain can have negative consequences on short and long-term outcomes, negative effects that are further amplified by infant-maternal separation. Research has shown that parents want to be part of their hospitalized infants pain management and that it is safe and effective. Yet, the implementation of parent-led pain management in neonatal care is sub-optimal. The overall aim of the project is to expand parent-led neonatal pain management, resulting in less infant pain and potentially better neonatal health outcomes, along with improved parent mental health and well-being.

Method The project is carried out by an international research group with researchers and parent representatives from Canada, Finland, Italy and Sweden, and will follow the British Research Council’s framework for complex interventions. It is organized into four work packages (WPs): Theory and concept (WP1), Identifying the problem (WP2), Developing an instrument and algorithm for self-audit (WP3), and Intervention and implementation (WP4). Principles for patient-public involvement will also be followed, with parent representatives involved in planning and designing the project and when applicable in data collection and publication of results.

ResultAn international team consisting of clinicians, researchers and parent partners across four countries have commenced initial work from WP1: writing a position paper, performing a literature review, and conducting an analysis of the concept of parent-led pain management.

ConclusionThe POP-project builds on the contribution of parents, researchers and clinicians and has the potential to improve implementation of parent-led pain management for neonates world-wide.