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Published on: January 27, 2010
Procedural pain and anxiety in paediatric patients in a Mexican emergency department
Mario I Ortiz1, Mayeli López-Zarco, Edna J Arreola-Bautista
1Área Académica de Medicina del Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico. mario_i_ortiz@hotmail.com
Insights
Pediatric emergency departments frequently expose children to painful and anxiety-inducing procedures. Peripheral catheterization, clinical exams, and vascular punctures are common culprits, necessitating improved pain and anxiety management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Pain and Anxiety Research
- Child Health
Background:
- Children in emergency rooms often face unpredictable pain and anxiety from diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
- This can significantly impact their overall healthcare experience and well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate procedures likely to induce pain and anxiety in children within a Mexican emergency department.
- To identify the prevalence of pain and anxiety associated with specific emergency room procedures.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study evaluated 252 children and adolescents (8-16 years) in a pediatric hospital's emergency department.
- Pain and anxiety were assessed using a 100-mm visual analogue scale for 459 completed procedures.
Main Results:
- 80.4% of procedures were rated as painful and 77.8% as stressful.
- Peripheral catheterization, clinical examination, and vascular puncture were the most frequently reported painful/stressful procedures.
- A significant percentage of painful and stressful events were rated as severe.
Conclusions:
- Common emergency department procedures cause substantial pain and anxiety in children and adolescents.
- Healthcare providers should implement effective psychological and pharmacological interventions to mitigate procedural pain and anxiety.
Aim:
This article is a report of a study carried out to investigate the procedures that are likely to induce pain and anxiety in children in a Mexican emergency department.
Background:
In emergency rooms, children often experience unpredictable diagnostic and therapeutic procedural-related pain that can be associated with considerable anxiety.
Design:
A prospective, descriptive and cross sectional study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of procedures or situations that probably induced anxiety and/or pain in children in an emergency room.
Methods:
Procedural pain and anxiety were evaluated in children and adolescents (8-16 years) who were admitted to the emergency department of a paediatric hospital between February-September 2010. Children rated their pain and anxiety using a 100-mm visual analogue scale.
Results:
A total of 252 children with a mean age of 10·1 years were evaluated. Four-hundred fifty-nine procedures were completed, with an average of 1·82 events/child. Of these procedures, 369 (80·4%) were rated painful and 357 (77·8%) were rated stressful. The most frequently reported procedural pain or stressful episodes were peripheral catheterization, clinical examination and vascular puncture. Overall, 32·5% of the painful events were rated severe, 32·0% were rated moderate and 35·5% were rated slight. However, 30% of the stressful events were rated severe, 38·9% were rated moderate and 31·1% were rated slight. Peripheral catheterization was rated severe in 58 children (33·9%), moderate in 55 children (32·2%) and slight in 58 (33·9%) children.
Conclusion:
This study provides data on common emergency department procedures that cause pain and anxiety in children and young adolescents. Healthcare providers must consider the best psychological and pharmacological interventions to reduce procedural anxiety and pain.
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