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An investigation of cold pressor pain in children (Part I)
Samuel LeBaron1, Lonnie Zeltzer, Debra Fanurik
1University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine, Calgary, AlbertaCanada Division of Hematology / Oncology, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Division of Child Development and Biobehavioral Pediatrics U.C.L.A. School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CAU.S.A. University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, ALU.S.A.
Insights
This study explored the cold pressor model for assessing pain in children. Results show it
Area of Science:
- Pediatric pain research
- Experimental psychology
- Child well-being studies
Background:
- The cold pressor test (CPT) is a common method for studying pain in adults.
- Its application in pediatric populations is limited due to ethical considerations regarding child participants' well-being.
- There is a need to adapt and validate pain assessment methods for children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of conducting CPT in children (ages 6-12) in an engaging and non-threatening manner.
- To determine if systematic and useful pain data can be collected using this model in a pediatric cohort.
- To assess the perceived stress and engagement levels of children and their parents during the study.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study was conducted with children aged 6-12 years.
- Participants underwent arm immersion in cold water at 15°C (n=37) and 12°C (n=29).
- Pain ratings were collected, and subjective feedback on the study's format was obtained from children and parents.
Main Results:
- Children's pain ratings significantly increased with longer immersion durations and lower water temperatures.
- The CPT paradigm yielded systematically obtainable and useful pain data in this pediatric sample.
- Both children and their parents reported the study format as interesting and non-stressful.
Conclusions:
- The cold pressor test can be adapted for pediatric research, yielding valuable pain data.
- The method was perceived positively by child participants and their parents, indicating good feasibility.
- Future pediatric pain studies using this model require continued ethical vigilance and refined well-being monitoring techniques.
Abstract:
Although the cold pressor model of pain has been used widely in laboratory studies with adults, it has been rarely used to study pain in children, likely because of obvious ethical concerns about the well-being of child participants. The goals of the present investigation were to determine (1) whether a laboratory study of this type could be conducted in a way that children would find interesting and non-threatening, and (2) whether potentially useful data could be gathered systematically within the framework of such a study. Results of a pilot study in children 6-12 years, with water temperature at 15 degrees C (n = 37) and 12 degrees C (n = 29), indicated that useful data could be obtained from this paradigm. Children's pain ratings increased with duration of arm immersion in the water and with decreasing water temperature. Most importantly, children and their parents perceived the format to be interesting and non-stressful. Continued caution and improved techniques for monitoring the well-being of child participants need to be a part of any future investigations of this type.