Perceptions of Neonatal Pain

Abstract

For adults to consider whether pain treatment is indicated for a newborn, they must recognize and interpret the signals given by the neonate who is facing a painful stimulus. It is by means of these signals, such as facial expressions, body movements, crying, and level of consciousness, that neonates establish interpersonal communication via their pain “language.” However, the acquisition of knowledge and the training of health-care professionals about pain assessment are not sufficient for appropriate pain evaluation in newborns. Any attempt to evaluate a painful event should take into consideration that the recognition of pain in the preverbal infant is subjective and, therefore, subject to multiple factors that can influence the observer's perception and assessment. Because personal, professional, and socioeconomic characteristics of the adults responsible for neonatal care, along with characteristics of the observed patients, influence the capacity of caregivers to interpret nonverbal communication of pain expressed by the neonate, the systematic use of validated pain assessment tools are important to make the perceptions of neonatal pain more homogeneous among health professionals.