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Practice guidelines for the assessment of children with sickle cell pain
J E Beyer1, A F Platt, T R Kinney
1University of Missouri-Kansas City, USA. beyerj@smtpgate.umkc.edu
Insights
Effective pain management for sickle cell disease (SCD) requires accurate assessment and a strong patient-provider relationship. Improved nursing care, considering patient perspectives, is crucial for better pain control in children and adolescents with SCD.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hematology
- Pain Management
- Sickle Cell Disease Research
Background:
- Pain from vaso-occlusive events (VOE) is a primary concern for individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD).
- Historically, pain associated with SCD has been inadequately treated and researched.
- A consensus meeting was convened to address these issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the nature of pain experienced during vaso-occlusive events (VOE) in both children and adults with SCD.
- To achieve consensus on essential improvements needed in the care of SCD patients experiencing pain.
Main Methods:
- A multidisciplinary group convened, including healthcare providers, academics, and individuals with SCD and their families.
- The group focused on examining VOE pain and discussing necessary care enhancements.
Main Results:
- Accurate pain assessment is fundamental for effective SCD care.
- Building a trusting relationship between patient, family, and healthcare team is essential.
- Comprehensive pain assessment is an ongoing, lifelong process requiring continuous updates.
Conclusions:
- Nursing care for children and adolescents with SCD pain should incorporate patient perspectives on pain and comfort.
- A unified approach to pain assessment can significantly improve pain management outcomes.
- Effective SCD pain management necessitates a collaborative and patient-centered approach.
Issues And Purpose:
Pain is the most frequent and important problem for children with sickle cell disease (SCD), but it has been undertreated and understudied. A multidisciplinary group of healthcare providers, academics, and people with SCD and their families met to (1) examine the pain of vaso-occlusive events (VOE) in children and adults with SCD and (2) reach consensus about necessary improvements in care.
Conclusions:
Accurate assessment of pain is at the crux of effective care for children with VOE. This requires a trusting interactive relationship among patient, family, and healthcare team. Comprehensive pain assessment is a lifelong process in need of continued updating.
Practice Implications:
Children with SCD seek treatment from nurses in many settings. Traditional care has been frustrating to both families and care providers. Children and adolescents with SCD pain would benefit from nursing care that considers patients' perspectives about pain and comfort as key determinants for treatment. A unified approach to pain assessment may be a significant factor in improving pain control.