Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 27, 2026

Electrophysiological Measurements and Analysis of Nociception in Human Infants
09:18

Electrophysiological Measurements and Analysis of Nociception in Human Infants

Published on: December 20, 2011

Not knowing--the problem of pain in children with severe neurological impairment

Anne Hunt1, Kiki Mastroyannopoulou, Ann Goldman

  • 1Royal College of Nursing Institute, Radcliffe Infirmary, Woodstock Road, OX2 6HE, Oxford, UK. anne.hunt@rcn.org.uk

International Journal of Nursing Studies
|February 1, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Optimal pain assessment in children with severe neurological impairment requires understanding the child, similar conditions, and medical science. Integrated care models and an intersubjective approach are crucial for effective pain management.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pain Management
  • Neurological Impairment
  • Clinical Decision-Making

Background:

  • Assessing pain in children with severe to profound neurological impairment presents unique challenges.
  • Existing care systems may fragment, hindering effective pain management.
  • A deeper understanding of parental and professional decision-making is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the diagnostic and clinical decision-making processes for pain in children with severe to profound neurological impairment.
  • To identify key knowledge domains essential for optimal pain assessment and management.
  • To propose a model for integrated care and pain assessment.

Main Methods:

  • Grounded theory approach.
  • Exploration of decision-making processes.
  • Analysis of knowledge requirements for pain assessment.

Main Results:

  • Three essential forms of knowledge identified: knowing the child, familiarity with similar conditions, and scientific knowledge.
  • Fragmented care systems can compromise pain relief.
  • A model integrating child-specific, population-specific, and scientific knowledge is proposed.

Conclusions:

  • Optimal pain assessment and management require a multi-faceted knowledge base.
  • Integrated care models are superior to fragmented systems for pain management.
  • An intersubjective attitude is vital for accurate pain assessment in this population.

More Related Videos

Electrophysiological Measurement of Noxious-evoked Brain Activity in Neonates Using a Flat-tip Probe Coupled to Electroencephalography06:29

Electrophysiological Measurement of Noxious-evoked Brain Activity in Neonates Using a Flat-tip Probe Coupled to Electroencephalography

Published on: November 29, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Pain01:20

Pain

Pain serves as a critical warning signal that alerts the body to potential or actual harm. When mechanical pressure on the skin is intense, such as from a sharp pinch, the sensation transitions from touch to pain. Similarly, extreme temperatures, like a hot pot handle, convert the sensation of heat into pain. Pain can also result from overstimulation of other senses, such as blinding light, loud noise, or the intense heat from habañero peppers. This ability to sense pain is essential for...
Nociception01:44

Nociception

Nociception—the ability to feel pain—is essential for an organism’s survival and overall well-being. Noxious stimuli such as piercing pain from a sharp object, heat from an open flame, or contact with corrosive chemicals are first detected by sensory receptors, called nociceptors, located on nerve endings. Nociceptors express ion channels that convert noxious stimuli into electrical signals. When these signals reach the brain via sensory neurons, they are perceived as pain. Thus, pain helps the...
Blood and Nerve Supply to the Bones01:29

Blood and Nerve Supply to the Bones

Bones are dynamic organs that require a rich supply of oxygen and nutrients. Around 5% to 10% of the cardiac output supplies blood to the bones. A typical long bone has three main sources: the nutrient artery, the metaphyseal and epiphyseal arteries, and the periosteal arteries.
Nutrient Artery
The nutrient artery is the main blood vessel that enters the diaphysis via the nutrient foramen. While most long bones have only one nutrient foramen, large bones, such as the femur, may have two. This...
Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...