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Pediatric pain: the parents' role
1Division of Hematology-Oncology, Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles, University of Southern California, School of Medicine.
Insights
Parents significantly influence pediatric pain management, impacting its onset and course. This study explores how parental involvement aids pain assessment and treatment, empowering parents as key partners for pediatricians.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pain Management
- Child Psychology
- Family Health
Background:
- Parental involvement is crucial in managing pediatric pain, yet systematic research is limited.
- Understanding the parent's role in the etiology and maintenance of children's pain complaints is essential.
Observation:
- Parents can influence the onset and progression of pediatric pain problems.
- Parental roles in pain assessment and management strategies are multifaceted.
Findings:
- Parental influence extends to the development and persistence of children's pain.
- Parental and child distress interact, affecting pain management outcomes.
- Direct parental interventions offer a viable approach to managing pediatric pain.
Implications:
- Parents can be valuable allies for pediatricians in treating children's pain.
- Empowering parents in pain management enhances their sense of competence and effectiveness.
Abstract:
As the child's primary caretaker, the parents' role in the management of pediatric pain is one of a priori significance, although it has not been studied in a systematic manner. This article considers several domains in which the parent may influence the onset and course of pediatric pain problems, as well as ways in which the parent may assist in pain assessment and management. The parents' role in the etiology and maintenance of children's pain complaints is discussed in the context of psychosomatic and behavioral theories. The parents' role in pediatric pain management is considered in terms of the interactive effects of parent and child distress, and avenues for direct parental intervention. It is concluded that the parent can be a helpful agent to the pediatrician in treating children's pain problems, while enhancing the parents' feelings of usefulness and competency in the process.