Abstract
Background Childbirth progress is much related to labour pain, whereby
the progress can be predicted using suitable pain assessment tools.
Objective To summarise methodology used for the assessment includes
scales, questionnaires, tests, and other methods used to assess pain
severity and childbirth progress in labouring women. Search strategy
Elsevier® Scopus and MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval
System Online, or MEDLARS Online accessed using PubMed®) were
systematically searched in November 2021. Selection criteria Original
research utilising pain assessment tools to assess pain severity and
labour progress. Data collection and analysis Data on study
characteristics, labour pain assessment tools, and labour evaluation are
qualitatively synthesised. Main results There are various types of pain
assessment tools that were identified. Nineteen (19) papers used the
Visual Analogue Scale to measure the pain in labouring women, 14 studies
used McGill Pain Questionnaire, and one (1) study used the questionnaire
in the Danish version, while seven (7) papers used numerical rating
scale in their studies to assess the labour pain in labouring women. For
the progression of labour, ten (10) research papers assess the labour
progress by examining cervical dilation and two (2) papers address the
duration of labour as the measurement in their studies. Conclusions Many
pains assessment tools are available to measure pain in labouring women.
Most articles used the Visual Analogue Scale to assess childbirth pain
with cervical dilatation to assess the labour progress. However, there
is still limited information available in the literature about suitable
pain assessment to predict labour progress.