This descriptive survey assessed knowledge, attitude and practice regarding analgesic prescription practices in neonates. A web-based questionnaire was developed and circulated to 150 physicians working in public and private neonatal intensive care units, of whom 87% were aware of neonatal pain perception; however, only 57.3% had any definite pain management policy. Some 66% were aware of a pain assessment tool in neonates, yet none had used it, though 80% used analgesics in their neonatal intensive care unit but only 44.3% were satisfied with the subsequent pain management. The most commonly used agents were midazolam and fentanyl. A total of 55% thought that opioid analgesia should not be used in neonates and morphine was used by only 5%; however, there seemed a general acceptance of opioid use since 86% used fentanyl as an analgesic. Non-pharmacological methods were used by 81%. Pain treatment in neonatal intensive care units is thus suboptimal and requires more attention.
Keywords: Analgesia; intensive care; newborn; opioid; pain.