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Pain behaviors in infants and toddlers
Insights
Infants and toddlers show predictable changes in acute pain behaviors, including motor movement, communication, and facial expressions, as they grow from birth to 36 months old.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nursing
- Pain Management
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Acute pain in infants and toddlers is common following procedures like surgery, fractures, or burns.
- Understanding pain behaviors in this age group is crucial for effective pain management.
- Developmental changes can influence how pain is expressed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the acute pain behaviors of infants and toddlers (birth to 36 months).
- To identify changes in these pain behaviors across the first three years of life.
- To develop a framework for understanding pediatric pain expression.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study utilizing naturalistic observation.
- Purposeful sampling of 32 inpatient children (birth to 36 months).
- Grounded theory approach with data from observations, parent interviews, and patient records.
Main Results:
- Three primary categories of pain behaviors were identified: motor movement, communication, and facial expression.
- Specific characteristics were defined for each pain behavior category.
- Predictable developmental changes in pain behaviors were observed within the study period.
Conclusions:
- Pain behaviors in infants and toddlers evolve predictably with age.
- A matrix of pediatric pain behaviors can aid in assessment and intervention.
- Further research can explore theoretical implications for pain management strategies.
Abstract:
The purposes of this qualitative study were to describe behaviors of infants and toddlers when in acute pain and to describe changes in those behaviors across the 3-yr span. With the use of naturalistic observation, 32 children, birth to 36 mo of age, were observed following surgery, fractures, or burns. Purposeful sampling of children, who were inpatients of a private midwestern hospital, was used. Data sources included child observations, parent interviews, and patient records. The research method used was grounded theory. Three pain behavior categories were developed, and characteristics of each category were identified. Pain categories included motor movement, communication, and facial expression. Theoretic implications were proposed. It is concluded that predictable changes in pain behaviors occur within infancy and toddlerhood. A matrix of pain behavior is presented.