Heart & lung : the journal of critical care
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One of the barriers to effective pain management in critical care is the lack of systematic, comprehensive methods for assessing and treating pain. Use of a printed, standardized pain assessment and intervention tool can stimulate critical thinking and provide a framework for organizing pain assessment and management data. ⋯ The assessment and treatment of pain in critically ill patients are highly complex processes. This study identified many advantages of the use of a standardized, systematic approach to pain assessment and treatment by health professionals.