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Search review questions

Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

2,353 questions in 210 reviews · Neonatal

current versions
No studies 432 · 18.4%Ungraded 99 · 4.2%Very low 609 · 25.9%Low 737 · 31.3%Moderate 385 · 16.4%High 91 · 3.9%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Clonidine vs placebo
aOne study and few events · neonates receiving mechanical ventilation
Clonidine for sedation and analgesia for neonates receiving mechanical ventilation (2017) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Visual acuity at 12 months post‐term (log/cycles/degree) · Preterm infants on enteral feed
Longchain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in preterm infants (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted82 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Bayley MDI at 12 months post‐term · Preterm infants on enteral feed
Longchain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in preterm infants (2016) · Cochrane
MD 0.964 studies · 364 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Bayley PDI at 12 months post‐term · Preterm infants on enteral feed
Longchain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in preterm infants (2016) · Cochrane
MD 0.234 studies · 353 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Weight at 12 months post‐term (kg) · Preterm infants on enteral feed
Longchain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in preterm infants (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 271 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Length at 12 months post‐term (cm) · Preterm infants on enteral feed
Longchain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in preterm infants (2016) · Cochrane
MD 0.254 studies · 271 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Head circumference at 12 months post‐term (cm) · Preterm infants on enteral feed
Longchain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in preterm infants (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 271 participantsLow
Supplemental vitamin A vs no supplementation
Neonatal death · very low birth weight infants
Vitamin A supplementation to prevent mortality and short‐ and long‐term morbidity in very low birth weight… (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.86 [0.66, 1.11]6 studies · 1165 participantsModerate
Supplemental vitamin A vs no supplementation
Chronic lung disease (oxygen use at 28 days in survivors) · very low birth weight infants
Vitamin A supplementation to prevent mortality and short‐ and long‐term morbidity in very low birth weight… (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.93 [0.86, 1.01]7 studies · 1070 participantsModerate
Supplemental vitamin A vs no supplementation
Death or chronic lung disease (oxygen use at 28 days) · very low birth weight infants
Vitamin A supplementation to prevent mortality and short‐ and long‐term morbidity in very low birth weight… (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.93 [0.88, 0.99]6 studies · 1165 participantsModerate
Supplemental vitamin A vs no supplementation
Death before 36 weeks' postmenstrual age · very low birth weight infants
Vitamin A supplementation to prevent mortality and short‐ and long‐term morbidity in very low birth weight… (2016) · Cochrane
RR 1 [0.77, 1.29]4 studies · 1089 participantsModerate
Supplemental vitamin A vs no supplementation
Chronic lung disease (oxygen use at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age in survivors) · very low birth weight infants
Vitamin A supplementation to prevent mortality and short‐ and long‐term morbidity in very low birth weight… (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.87 [0.77, 0.99]5 studies · 986 participantsModerate
Supplemental vitamin A vs no supplementation
Death or chronic lung disease (oxygen use at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age) · very low birth weight infants
Vitamin A supplementation to prevent mortality and short‐ and long‐term morbidity in very low birth weight… (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.92 [0.84, 1.01]4 studies · 1089 participantsModerate
Supplemental vitamin A vs no supplementation
Neurodevelopmental impairment at 18 to 22 months · very low birth weight infants
Vitamin A supplementation to prevent mortality and short‐ and long‐term morbidity in very low birth weight… (2016) · Cochrane
RR 0.89 [0.74, 1.08]1 study · 538 participantsLow
Intervention NR
PIPP at 30 s after heel lance Range of scale 0‐21 for infants < 28 weeks PMA and 0‐18 for infants > 36 weeks PMA. A lower score = less pain (Stevens 1996) · neonates with heel lance‐associated pain
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 105 participantsLow
Intervention NR
PIPP score Range of scale 0‐21 for infants < 28 weeks PMA and 0‐18 for infants > 36 weeks PMA A lower score = less pain (Stevens 1996; Stevens 2014a) · neonates with heel lance‐associated pain
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 47 participantsLow
Intervention NR
PIPP score Range of scale 0‐21 for infants < 28 weeks PMA and 0‐18 for infants > 36 weeks PMA A lower score = less pain (Stevens 1996; Stevens 2014a) · neonates with heel lance‐associated pain
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 47 participantsLow
Intervention NR
NIPS score Range of scale 0‐7 A lower score = less pain Lawrence 1993 · neonates with pain associated with heel lance
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 42 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Revised NFCS Range of scale 0‐10 in term infants 0‐9 in preterm infants A lower score = less pain Grunau 1987 · neonates with pain associated with heel lance
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 343 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Revised NFCS Range of scale 0‐10 in term infants 0‐9 in preterm infants A lower score = less pain Grunau 1987 · neonates with pain associated with heel lance
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 343 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Revised NFCS Range of scale 0‐10 in term infants 0‐9 in preterm infants A lower score = less pain Grunau 1987 · neonates with pain associated with heel lance
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 337 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Total Bernese Pain Scale for Neonates (BPSN) during heel lance · neonates with pain associated with repeated heel lances
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 48 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Total Bernese Pain Scale for Neonates during recovery from heel lance · neonates with pain associated with repeated heel lances
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 48 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Total Bernese Pain Scale for Neonates during heel lance (preterm infants) · neonates with pain associated with repeated heel lances
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 47 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Total Bernese Pain Scale for Neonates during recovery (preterm infants) · neonates with pain associated with repeated heel lances
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 47 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
PIPP at 60 s after heel lance Range of scale 0‐21 for infants < 28 weeks PMA and 0‐18 for infants >3 6 weeks PMA A lower score = less pain (Stevens 1996; Stevens 2014a) · neonates with heel lance‐associated pain
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 31 participantsLow
Intervention NR
NIPS score in term and preterm infants Range of scale 0‐7 A lower score = less pain Lawrence 1993 · neonates with pain associated with venipuncture
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 111 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
PIPP score during venipuncture Range of scale 0‐21 for infants < 28 weeks PMA and 0‐18 for infants > 36 weeks PMA A lower score = less pain (Stevens 1996; Stevens 2014a) · neonates with pain associated with venipuncture
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 213 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
PIPP score Range of scale 0‐21 for infants < 28 weeks PMA and 0‐18 for infants > 36 weeks PMA A lower score = less pain (Stevens 1996; Stevens 2014a) · neonates with pain associated with venipuncture
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 76 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
PIPP score during post‐injection period Range of scale 0‐21 for infants < 28 weeks PMA and 0‐18 for infants > 36 weeks PMA A lower score = less pain (Stevens 1996; Stevens 2014a) · neonates with pain associated with venipuncture
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 76 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
DAN score during venipuncture (preterm infants) Range of scale 0‐10 A lower score = less pain (Carbajal 1997) · neonates with pain associated with venipuncture
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 76 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
DAN score during the post‐injection period Range of scale 0‐10 A lower score = less pain (Carbajal 1997) · neonates with pain associated with venipuncture
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 76 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
NIPS during 1‐2 minutes after IM injection Range of scale 0‐7 A lower score = less pain Lawrence 1993 · neonates with pain associated with intramuscular injection
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 60 participantsLow
Intervention NR
PIPP during IM injection (term infants) ‐ Infants of non‐diabetic and diabetic mothers Range of scale 0‐21 for infants < 28 weeks PMA and 0‐18 for infants > 36 weeks PMA A lower score = less pain (Stevens 1996; Stevens 2014a) · neonates with pain associated with intramuscular injection
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 232 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
NIPS during 1‐2 minutes after immunization Range of scale 0‐7 A lower score = less pain Lawrence 1993 · neonates with pain associated with intramuscular injection
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 60 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Change in DAN score Range of scale 0‐10 A lower score = less pain (Carbajal 1997) · neonates with pain associated with bladder catheterization
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 33 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
PIPP score during heel lance (1st heel lance) Range of scale 0‐21 for infants < 28 weeks PMA and 0‐18 for infants > 36 weeks PMA A lower score = less pain (Stevens 1996; Stevens 2014a) · neonates with heel lance‐associated pain
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 107 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
PIPP score intra procedure Range of scale 0‐21 for infants < 28 weeks PMA and 0‐18 for infants > 36 weeks PMA A lower score = less pain (Stevens 1996; Stevens 2014a) · neonates with pain associated with orogastric tube insertion
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 105 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
PIPP score 30 seconds post procedure Range of scale 0‐21 for infants < 28 weeks PMA and 0‐18 for infants > 36 weeks PMA A lower score = less pain (Stevens 1996; Stevens 2014a) · neonates with pain associated with orogastric tube insertion
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 105 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
PIPP score 1 min post procedure Range of scale 0‐21 for infants < 28 weeks PMA and 0‐18 for infants > 36 weeks PMA A lower score = less pain (Stevens 1996; Stevens 2014a) · neonates with pain associated with orogastric tube insertion
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 105 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
PIPP during exam Range of scale 0‐21 for infants < 28 weeks PMA and 0‐18 for infants > 36 weeks PMA A lower score = less pain (Stevens 1996; Stevens 2014a) · neonates with pain/distress associated with ROP examination
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 32 participantsLow
Intervention NR
PIPP score during eye examination Range of scale 0‐21 for infants < 28 weeks PMA and 0‐18 for infants > 36 weeks PMA A lower score = less pain (Stevens 1996; Stevens 2014a) · neonates
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 134 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
N‐PASS score during circumcision Range of scale 0‐13 A lower score = less pain (Hummel 2010) · neonates undergoing circumcision
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 60 participantsLow
Intervention NR
N‐PASS score after 5 min Range of scale 0‐13 A lower score = less pain (Hummel 2010) · neonates undergoing circumcision
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 60 participantsLow
Intervention NR
N‐PASS score during circumcision Range 0‐13 A lower score = less pain (Hummel 2010) · neonates undergoing circumcision
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 60 participantsLow
Intervention NR
N‐PASS score after 5 min Range 0‐13 A lower score = less pain (Hummel 2010) · neonates undergoing circumcision
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 60 participantsLow
Intervention NR
PIPP · neonates undergoing echocardiography
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 104 participantsLow
Intervention NR
DAN score at 30 s after heel lance Range of scale 0‐10 A lower score = less pain (Carbajal 1997) · neonates with heel lance‐associated pain
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 32 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Motor development and vigor (MDV) domain of the NAPI tool Normative mean and SD at 36 weeks PMA 63 (14.5) Higher scores are associated with more mature behaviour (Snider 2005) · neonates with pain associated with potentially painful procedures for 7 days
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 93 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Alertness and orientation (AO) domain of the NAPI tool Normative mean and SD at 36 weeks PMA 54 (19.4) Higher scores are associated with more mature behaviour (Snider 2005) · neonates with pain associated with potentially painful procedures for 7 days
Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures (2016) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted1 study · 93 participantsHigh