Related Experiment Videos
Evaluation and management of pain in children with rheumatic diseases
1University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Insights
Pediatric pain management in rheumatic diseases is advancing with the Pain Perception Questionnaire (PPQ). Research is validating its use, advocating for pain measurement in clinical trials for better pediatric healthcare.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rheumatology
- Pain Management
- Clinical Trial Outcomes
Background:
- Pain assessment and management in pediatric rheumatic diseases require further empirical development.
- The Pain Perception Questionnaire (PPQ) is emerging as a key tool for systematic research in this area.
- Current practices highlight the need for validated measures to assess pain accurately in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To advocate for the inclusion of pediatric pain measurement in controlled clinical trials.
- To support the ongoing development and validation of the PPQ for pediatric rheumatic diseases.
- To emphasize the importance of comprehensive pain management strategies beyond pharmacologic treatments.
Main Methods:
- Systematic research efforts are underway to establish the reliability and validity of the PPQ.
- Focus on developing age-appropriate measures for accurate pain reporting by children.
- Evaluating the efficacy of cognitive-behavior therapy techniques for managing recurrent pain.
Main Results:
- Children can accurately report pain using validated, age-appropriate tools.
- Pharmacologic treatment alone is insufficient for optimal pain management.
- Cognitive-behavior therapy shows promise for managing breakthrough pain with no adverse effects.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric pain measurement should be an essential outcome in clinical trials.
- Adequate pain control is a critical indicator of quality pediatric healthcare.
- A multimodal approach, including non-pharmacologic therapies, is essential for effective pain management in children with rheumatic diseases.
Abstract:
The evaluation and management of pain in children with rheumatic diseases are still in the early stages of empirical development. Nevertheless, with the advent of the PPQ, systematic research efforts are now underway to develop the reliability and validity of the PPQ's measurement characteristics for pediatric rheumatic diseases. With these developments, the inclusion of pediatric pain measurement as an essential outcome variable in controlled clinical trials should be advocated. The major points to be advocated by professionals who care for these children are (1) Children can accurately report their pain when age-appropriate measures are used; (2) pharmacologic treatment is not a sufficient condition for adequate pain management; (3) cognitive-behavior therapy techniques can facilitate children's coping with "breakthrough" recurrent musculoskeletal pain with no known side effects; and (4) adequate pain control should be viewed as a quality assurance issue, considered as another indicator of the adequacy of pediatric health care.