Keywords
Intensive care unit
Neonatal
Procedural pain
Review
Submitted : 2026-02-08
Accepted : 2026-02-23
Published : 2026-03-10
Abstract
Neonatal procedural pain is one of the most frequent clinical challenges in the NICU. It not only causes acute physiological stress but also possibly has long-term neurodevelopmental adverse effects. In recent years, with a change in pain concept and advancement in evidence-based medicine, strategies for managing neonatal procedural pain have been becoming increasingly systematic and individualized. By reviewing domestic and international research progress, this article summarizes the current status of procedural pain occurrence, pain assessment tool application and timing, and non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions in clinical practice, including healthcare professional education and training; it aims to provide a reference for clinical practice and further improve the quality of neonatal pain management.
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