Nonpharmacological Pain Interventions for NICU Infants: Educational Pamphlet Proposal

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to propose an education pamphlet on nonpharmacological pain interventions for parents of infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This paper focuses on the complications and consequences of early neonatal pain exposure as well as the use of kangaroo care, facilitated tucking, non-nutritive sucking, and oral sucrose to decrease pain. It is the goal that a promotion of education will increase the use of these pain interventions. Current research has been synthesized and presented in this paper to outline the efficacy of nonpharmacological pain interventions, parent involvement, and patient education materials. As this paper's education pamphlet targets the NICU parent population, further information should be provided by the healthcare team to ensure safe care. A hypothetical plan for implementation is outlined using Everett M. Rogers' (2003) Theory of Diffusion of Innovation. Methods for evaluating the effectiveness of the educational pamphlet are also included.