Recent research has shown that Newborn babies are extremely sensitive to pain. However, Studies have shown that not all neonates receive pain assessment and relief measures while undergoing minor procedures. Aims: To improve the proportion of newborns undergoing pain assessment and receiving pain relief during minor procedures using the Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) quality improvement approach. Methodology: Hundred late preterm and term neonates (Gestation between 35 weeks to 42 weeks) who underwent either IV cannulation or venous blood sampling during hospital stay were audited to find out the baseline data regarding pain assessment and pain relief during Intravenous cannulation or sampling. This was followed by a root cause analysis and testing of improvement initiatives using PDSA approach. The feasible solutions were implemented and data was collected using the pre-existing proforma. Results: Baseline data showed that pain assessment was being done in 34% of the neonates while pain relief measures were used in 52% of the newborns. Using the PDSA based quality improvement approach, we were able to improve assessment of pain from 34 % to 96 %. The use of interventions for pain relief increased from 52% to 81%.

Neonatal Pain assessment, pain relief, quality improvement initiative