Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

A Quantitative Sensory Testing Paradigm to Obtain Measures of Pain Processing in Patients Undergoing Breast Cancer Surgery
07:14

A Quantitative Sensory Testing Paradigm to Obtain Measures of Pain Processing in Patients Undergoing Breast Cancer Surgery

Published on: January 18, 2018

Children in chronic pain: promoting pediatric patients' symptom accounts in tertiary care

Ignasi Clemente1, Seung-Hee Lee, John Heritage

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. iclemente@mednet.ucla.edu

Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|February 15, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Clinicians use specific techniques to encourage children to describe their symptoms. Epistemic prefaces and non-focused questioning were observed in pediatric tertiary care settings, varying by specialty.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric healthcare communication
  • Clinical interaction analysis
  • Child symptom reporting

Background:

  • Effective communication is crucial for accurate pediatric diagnosis.
  • Understanding how clinicians elicit symptom information from children is vital.
  • Pediatric tertiary care settings present unique communication challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate clinician strategies for promoting pediatric patients' symptom accounts.
  • To analyze the types and distribution of these strategies across different pediatric subspecialties.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 69 videotaped pediatric intake visits from pain, gastroenterology, and neurology clinics.
  • Quantitative and qualitative data collection from patient-parent pairs.
  • Identification and categorization of clinician interactional techniques.

Main Results:

  • Two primary methods of promoting child symptom accounts were identified: epistemic prefaces and non-focused questioning.
  • Epistemic prefaces were more common in gastroenterology and neurology.
  • Non-focused questioning predominated in pain encounters.

Conclusions:

  • Clinician communication strategies vary significantly across pediatric subspecialties.
  • These techniques aim to enhance the child's role as a primary informant.
  • Tailoring communication methods may improve symptom elicitation in pediatric care.

More Related Videos

Objective Nociceptive Assessment in Ventilated ICU Patients: A Feasibility Study Using Pupillometry and the Nociceptive Flexion Reflex06:04

Objective Nociceptive Assessment in Ventilated ICU Patients: A Feasibility Study Using Pupillometry and the Nociceptive Flexion Reflex

Published on: July 4, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Tertiary Healthcare System01:21

Tertiary Healthcare System

Specialized care provided over an extended period is called tertiary care. Usually, a primary or secondary care physician will refer a patient to tertiary care. A patient's maximum physical and mental function is restored in tertiary care, which is caused due to the impact of a chronic illness or condition. Tertiary care aims to achieve the highest level of functioning possible while managing chronic illness. For example, a patient who falls and fractures their hip will need secondary care to...
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...
Chronic Pancreatitis II: Collaborative Care01:29

Chronic Pancreatitis II: Collaborative Care

The management of chronic pancreatitis is multifaceted, involving a comprehensive approach that includes thorough assessment, diagnostic testing, and a variety of management strategies.
Assessment:
Secondary Healthcare System01:11

Secondary Healthcare System

Secondary healthcare is offered by a specialist, generally in hospitals or clinics for patients referred by primary healthcare providers. It occurs when a person has an illness or injury that requires specific medical care. Secondary care is often referred to as acute care. Secondary care can range from uncomplicated care to repair a minor laceration or treat a strep throat infection to more complicated emergent care, such as treating a head injury sustained in an automobile accident. Whatever...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Nephrotic Syndrome III : Nursing Management01:24

Nephrotic Syndrome III : Nursing Management

Nursing management for nephrotic syndrome adapts as the disease progresses, with strategies evolving to address advancing symptoms and complications.Early-Stage Management In the early stages, nursing interventions for nephrotic syndrome resemble those used in managing acute glomerulonephritis, focusing on symptom monitoring, fluid balance, and managing mild to moderate edema.Vital Signs: Regularly monitor blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, and temperature to promptly identify...