LINHARES, Maria Beatriz Martins    DOCA, Fernanda Nascimento Pereira. Pain in neonates and children: assessment and non-pharmacological interventions. Temas psicol. []. 2010, 18, 2, pp.307-325. ISSN 1413-389X.

Pain is a multidimensional phenomenon which is influenced by biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors. Pain is a subjective experience, but it could be measured through self/hetero-report and objective signs of physiological and psychological changes. Scientific evidences show well-established instruments for pediatric pain assessment, concerning different developmental phases and clinical settings. The systematic pain assessment is relevant to support pharmacological and non-pharmacological management. Several non-pharmacological interventions reveal efficacy for pain relief, such as: sugar substances (sucrose and glucose) and skin-to-skin contact, for neonates, and cognitive and behavioral interventions (distraction and muscle relaxation), for children. Otherwise, institutional studies show gaps on the transfer of scientific knowledge about pain assessment and management to the practice. The future challenge consists on the development of institutional policies about pain to enhance the interdisciplinary health professional practice.

: Pain; Assessment; Management; Children; Newborn.

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