Pain Reported by Chinese Children During Cancer Treatment: Prevalence, Intensity, Interference, and Management

Pain is a frequently reported and distressing symptoms during cancer treatment. However, there is limited evidence on pain reported by Chinese children with cancer.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, intensity, interference, and management of pain reported by Chinese children during cancer treatment and explore the predictors of pain interference.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey to investigate the pain intensity, pain interference, co-occurring symptoms (anger, anxiety, depression, fatigue), and pain management strategies reported by children 8 years and older undergoing active cancer treatment in 4 Chinese hospitals.

Data were analyzed for 187 children. The prevalence of moderate to severe pain (≥4/10) was 38.50%, with an average pain interference score of 52.97 out of 100. Approximately 24% of children were prescribed pain medicine. Pain interference and pain intensity were marginally correlated (r = 0.047, P < .01) and were both positively correlated with pain duration and co-occurring symptoms and negatively correlated with perceived pain alleviation (all P < .01). Multiple regression analyses suggested that severe pain intensity (B = 2.028, P = .003) and fatigue (B = 0.440, P < .001) significantly predicted higher levels of pain interference (R2 = 0.547, F = 23.102, P < .001).

Chinese children with cancer reported a low pain intensity score but a relatively high level of pain interference. According to the children's reports, pain has not been sufficiently addressed through Chinese pediatric oncology supportive care.

There is an urgent requirement for comprehensive pain assessment and standardized, targeted interventions in Chinese pediatric oncology pain management.