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Pain prevalence in a pediatric hospital: raising awareness during Pain Awareness Week
Insights
Most hospitalized children experience moderate to severe pain, with analgesics frequently used. While non-pharmacological pain management is reported, documentation remains low, despite overall patient satisfaction.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Healthcare
- Pain Management
- Clinical Practice
Background:
- Validated pediatric pain assessment tools and management strategies exist but are inconsistently applied.
- There is a need to understand current pain management practices in pediatric settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the prevalence of pain, pain assessment, and pain management practices.
- Study conducted at a tertiary pediatric hospital in Canada.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study combining interviews with children/caregivers and chart audits.
- Data collected on pain intensity, procedures, and interventions (pharmacological and non-pharmacological).
Main Results:
- 84% of children experienced pain, with 66% reporting moderate to severe pain.
- Analgesics were used in almost half of painful procedures; non-pharmacological interventions were reported by 32% but documented in only 17% of charts.
- Pain scores documented in 55% of charts; 71% of patients/caregivers were satisfied with pain management.
Conclusions:
- Most pediatric patients experience significant pain during hospitalization.
- Frequent use of analgesics, but under-documentation of non-pharmacological strategies.
- High patient and caregiver satisfaction with pain management despite identified practice gaps.
Background:
Despite the evidence and availability of numerous validated pain assessment tools and pain management strategies for infants and children, their use remains inconsistent in clinical practice.
Objectives:
To describe the prevalence of pain, pain assessment and pain management practices at a tertiary pediatric hospital in Canada.
Methods:
The cross-sectional study design involved a combination of interviews with children and⁄or caregivers, and chart audits in five inpatient units. Information regarding pain intensity, painful procedures and pain management strategies was obtained from children and⁄or caregivers by interview. Patient charts were reviewed for information regarding pain assessment, pain scores, and pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions.
Results:
Sixty-two children (four days to 17 years of age) participated. Most children or their caregivers (n=51 [84%]) reported that pain was experienced during their hospitalization, with 40 (66%) reporting their worst pain as moderate or severe. Almost one-half reported analgesics were administered before or during their most recent painful procedure. Nineteen (32%) reported sucrose, topical anesthetics or nonpharmacological interventions were used; however, they were documented in only 17% of charts. Pain scores were documented in 34 (55%) charts in the previous 24 h. The majority of the children or their caregiver (n=44 [71%]) were satisfied with pain management at the study hospital.
Conclusions:
Most infants and children had experienced moderate or severe pain during their hospitalization. Analgesics were frequently used, and although nonpharmacological strategies were reported to be used, they were rarely documented. Most parents and children were satisfied with their pain management.
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