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Chronic pain management as a barrier to pediatric palliative care

Lindsay A Thompson1, Elizabeth Meinert, Kimberly Baker

  • 11Departments of Pediatrics and Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.

The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care
|January 19, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Effective pain management in children is a significant unmet need. Multimodal approaches, including palliative care, are key, but provider knowledge and attitudes also play a crucial role.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Pain Management
  • Palliative Care

Background:

  • Pain is a frequent reason for pediatric visits to outpatient and emergency departments.
  • Effective pain management for children remains a significant unmet need.
  • Children experience acute pain from intermittent issues or acute/chronic pain with chronic illnesses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the unmet need in pediatric pain management.
  • To discuss the established approaches and recommendations for pain control in children.
  • To identify provider-related factors influencing pain management.

Main Methods:

  • Review of established pain management guidelines (e.g., World Health Organization, Institute of Medicine).
  • Discussion of palliative care referral for children with life-limiting illnesses.
  • Emphasis on the provider's role in assessing knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

Main Results:

  • Standardized, stepwise approaches are the mainstay of pediatric pain treatment.
  • Palliative care is recommended for children with life-limiting illnesses, offering comprehensive pain control alongside curative treatments.
  • Provider self-assessment of knowledge, skills, and attitudes is vital for improving pain management.

Conclusions:

  • Multimodal strategies are essential for effective pediatric pain management, irrespective of the pain's origin.
  • Addressing provider-level factors is crucial for overcoming barriers to optimal pain control in children.
  • Integrating palliative care ensures comprehensive support for children with serious illnesses.

Keywords:
pain managementpalliative carepediatrics

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