Clinical Focus ›› 2026, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (4): 341-347.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-583X.2026.04.009

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Evidence-based summary of pain management in adult ICU patients

Jin Junhao1, Wang Yonghua2a(), Wang Jiaxi1, Gao Caoji1, Jiang Lingli2b, Chen Juan2c   

  1. 1. School of Nursing,Chengdu Medical College,Chengdu 610083,China
    2a. Physical Examination Center; b.Department of Neurosurgery; c.Department of Critical Care Medicine,the General Hospital of Western Theater Command PLA,Chengdu 610083,China
  • Received:2026-01-28 Online:2026-04-20 Published:2026-04-24
  • Contact: Wang Yonghua,Email: 694935018@qq.com

Abstract:

Objective To retrieve, appraise, and summarize the latest evidence on pain management in adult patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), providing a reference for clinical management and practice. Methods Following the top-down “6S” evidence pyramid model, relevant databases and websites were searched for literature related to pain management in adult ICU patients. The search period was from January 1, 2015 to August 11, 2025. Researchers who had received evidence-based nursing training appraised the quality of the included literature and completed evidence extraction and synthesis. Results A total of 13 articles were included, comprising 4 clinical decisions, 4 guidelines, 1 systematic review, and 4 expert consensuses. Thirty-two evidence statements were summarized across 7 aspects: basic principles of analgesic management, pain assessment, pharmacological pain management, non-pharmacological pain relief measures, procedure-related pain, pain management in special populations, and training and quality improvement in pain management. The core updated evidence included: emphasizing the principle of analgesia first; clarifying the leading role of nurses in pain assessment and non-pharmacological analgesia; refining strategies for minimizing opioid use; explicitly proposing guidance on the sequence of withdrawal for patients receiving multiple sedative-analgesic drugs; systematically recommending preventive analgesia for procedure-related pain; and incorporating pain management training and quality indicators into the recommendations. Conclusion The evidence-based findings summarized in this study regarding pain management in adult ICU patients are scientifically sound and practically applicable, and may serve as a reference for optimizing pain management and improving nursing quality in adult ICU patients.

Key words: pain management, intensive care units, adults, evidence summary, evidence-based nursing

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