Modern approaches and practices for assessing neonatal pain (literature review)

Pain experienced during the neonatal period may have long-term consequences for a child’s physical, mental, and emotional development, justifying the need for accurate pain assessment and effective management of pain syndromes. The study explores various approaches to identifying pain in newborns, particularly in preterm infants, who exhibit heightened sensitivity to painful stimuli due to the immaturity of their nervous system. The aim - to analyze scientific data on the causes of development, clinical manifestations and current practices of pain assessment in newborns. The article analyzes pain assessment methods, including subjective and objective scales such as N-PASS, NIPS, CRIES, COMFORTneo, and PIPP-R. Challenges in standardizing these tools, driven by individual variations in neonatal responses, are discussed. The impact of pain on physiological parameters, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation, as well as on behavioral manifestations, including crying and facial expressions, and neurodevelopment, is examined, supported by findings from recent studies. Advanced technologies for pain assessment, including biobehavioral methods such as heart rate variability analysis, electroencephalography, and near-infrared spectroscopy, are reviewed. Non-pharmacological pain management strategies, such as breastfeeding, the Kangaroo Mother Care method, and sucrose administration, are described, alongside pharmacological approaches, including the use of opioids and local anesthetics. The article also addresses ethical considerations and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to caring for newborns undergoing painful procedures. The need for ongoing training of healthcare professionals and updates to clinical protocols to enhance the quality of care is outlined. Conclusion.Effective pain management is impossible without timely and accurate pain assessment. To implement modern methods and approaches, it is necessary to constantly improve the qualifications of medical professionals, update clinical protocols, and ensure access to the latest diagnostic tools. The authors declare no conflict of interest.