Evaluation of the Premature Infant Pain Profile-Revised (PIPP-R) e-Learning Module: Immediate and Sustained Competency

Abstract

Background: Electronic health (e-health) learning is a potential avenue to educate health professionals about accurately using infant pain assessment tools, although little is known about the impact of e-health interventions on clinical competence.

Purpose: To evaluate whether an e-health learning module for teaching the accurate use of the Premature Infant Pain Profile-Revised (PIPP-R) pain assessment tool results in immediate and sustained competency to assess infant pain.

Methods: Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses who participated in a larger study across 2 tertiary NICUs in Canada examining the implementation and clinical utility of the PIPP-R e-learning module completed 2 follow-up evaluations at 1 week and 3 months. Participants were asked to view a video recording of an infant undergoing a painful procedure and to assess the infant's pain intensity response using the PIPP-R measure. Immediate and sustained competency was assessed via interrater consensus of participant-reported PIPP-R scores compared with those of an experienced trained coder.

Results: Of the 25 eligible nurses, 22 completed 1-week and 3-month follow-up evaluations. At the 1-week follow-up, 84% of nurses scored the video accurately compared with 50% at 3 months. Behavioral pain indicators were more likely to be scored incorrectly than physiological indicators.

Implications for practice: Follow-up training after completion of the initial e-learning module training may improve competency related to the clinical use of the PIPP-R tool to assess infant pain over time.

Implications for research: Additional study regarding the need and timing of e-health training to optimize sustained competency in infant pain assessment is warranted.