Parents' perceptions of their child's acute pain experience

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Updated: Nov 1, 2026

An Experimental Paradigm for the Prediction of Post-Operative Pain (PPOP)
14:56

An Experimental Paradigm for the Prediction of Post-Operative Pain (PPOP)

Published on: January 27, 2010

J H Watt-Watson, C Evernden, C Lawson

    Journal of Pediatric Nursing
    |October 1, 1990
    PubMed

    Insights

    Parents want more information and involvement during their child's painful medical procedures. Understanding parental concerns is key to reducing stress during pediatric hospitalizations.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric healthcare
    • Pain management
    • Patient and family-centered care

    Background:

    • Painful procedures are a significant source of stress for pediatric patients.
    • Parental stress is often linked to their child's acute pain experience during hospital admission.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate parents' perceptions and concerns regarding their child's acute pain.
    • To understand parental needs for information and involvement during painful pediatric procedures.

    Main Methods:

    • A questionnaire was administered to 71 parents of 62 children.
    • Data collected included child's pain intensity, pain behaviors, and parental preparation and involvement.

    Main Results:

    • Most parents expressed a desire for increased information about procedures causing their child pain.
    • A majority of parents sought greater participation in managing their child's pain during medical procedures.

    Conclusions:

    • Parental involvement and clear communication are crucial for managing pediatric procedural pain.
    • Addressing parental needs can mitigate stress and improve the overall healthcare experience for children.

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