Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40270436›Full record

Trial reportJournal of advanced nursing2026

A Neonatal Nurse-Controlled Model of Analgesia to Manage Post-Operative Pain in the Surgical Neonate: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial.

Renee Muirhead, Kathryn Kynoch, Glenda Hawley, Emma Ballard, Pita Birch, P A Lewis

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of advanced nursing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Renee MuirheadNeonatal Critical Care Unit, Mater Health, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8026-6620
Kathryn KynochSchool of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5353-9876
Glenda HawleySchool of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Emma BallardSchool of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Pita BirchNeonatal Critical Care Unit, Mater Health, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
P A LewisSchool of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimTo test the feasibility and acceptability of a newly developed model of neonatal nurse-controlled analgesia to manage pain in the post-operative infant.

designThe study utilised a single-centre two-arm parallel, unblinded randomised controlled external pilot trial design.

methodsThe pilot trial was conducted in a surgical neonatal tertiary intensive care unit in Brisbane, Australia. Eligible infants were randomised to receive either post-operative pain management care via a model of neonatal nurse-controlled analgesia or standard care. Feasibility and acceptability were the primary outcomes. Seven feasibility outcomes were assessed by a traffic light system to delineate progression to a larger trial. Acceptability and clinical utility of the model of care by staff were assessed by feedback from an anonymous questionnaire that was administered at the completion of the trial period. Secondary outcomes included parental attitudes and perceptions of post-operative pain management to help establish primary outcomes for a larger randomised controlled trial.

resultsOverall staff found the formalised model beneficial for managing post-operative pain but found the complexity of the model and ability to titrate analgesia based only on documented pain scores barriers requiring further consideration. Three of the seven feasibility outcomes failed to reach 'greenlight' targets to progress to a larger trial with adherence to the model, and the proportion of eligible infants not recruited was allocated a 'redlight'. Secondary outcomes were comparable and support future study.

conclusionThis pilot feasibility study has shown that a model of neonatal nurse-controlled analgesia can be safely implemented and utilised in the post-operative care of the surgical neonate. Further exploration of the barriers to model adherence and recruitment is warranted before a future larger trial is undertaken. IMPACT: Though not all primary outcomes reached an acceptable range for further progression, this pilot feasibility study provided invaluable learning and has provided direction for future research into the provision of a family integrated and responsive model of analgesia. REPORTING

methodThis study is reported in line with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT): Extension to randomised pilot and feasibility trial and the TIDieR Checklist (Template for Intervention, Description and Replication). PUBLIC OR PATIENT CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution was utilised for this study.

trial registrationACTRN12623000643673-the trial was prospectively registered.

Indexed as

AnalgesiaNeonatal NursingNurses, NeonatalPain ManagementPostoperative PainFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornMalePilot Projectsanalgesiafeasibilityneonatalnurse‐controlledpainpilotpost‐operativesurgical

Identifiers

PMID40270436
PMCPMC12810603

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.