Abstract

Aim.The aim of this study was a review on common pain assessment tools which are used in critical care units.

Background. Pain is an unpleasant physiological and psychological feeling and a complex phenomenon which is common among patients in critical care units. Nowadays, the importance of pain is to the extent that the American Pain Association named it as the fifth vital sign. Pain relief is an important issue to improve patient outcomes in the intensive care units. Accordingly, nurses must be sensitive in precise pain assessment.

Method. In this review article, six pain assessment tools were selected based on the keywords "pain", "pain relief", and "pain assessment tools" from the databases Ovid, PubMed, Cochran, CINHAL, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar. 

Findings.Among articles on pain assessment tools, 40 articles were selected. There are six commonpain assessment toolsused in critical care units includingCritical Pain Observation Tool (CPOT),Behavioral PainScale(BPS), behavioralpain assessmenttool(FLACC), Non-VerbalPainScale)NVPS), Pain Assessment and Intervention Notation (PAIN) algorithm and Nonverbal Pain Assessment Tool (NPAT) which are used in adult and pediatric patients with verbal impairment and for painfulprocedures.

Conclusion. According to the importance of pain management in intensive care units,   nurses must particularly apply valid tools for pain assessment to facilitate healing process and use of pain medications properly.