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A Qualitative Study of the Pain Experiences of Children and Their Parents at a Canadian Children's Hospital
Elise Kammerer1,2, Joshua Eszczuk3, Katie Caldwell4
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada.
Insights
Families want proactive pain management for children, as poor pain control impacts healthcare experiences. Advocating for better pain care is crucial, but families often feel intimidated by healthcare professionals.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric healthcare
- Pain management
- Family-centered care
Background:
- Limited literature exists on family involvement in pediatric pain management.
- Understanding family experiences is crucial for improving care.
- Pain significantly impacts children and their families.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore children's and parents' experiences with pain management in a pediatric hospital setting.
- To identify challenges and facilitators in family involvement in pain management.
- To inform strategies for enhancing pediatric pain care.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving 12 child-parent dyads.
- Interviews conducted with children and parents (together or separately).
- Inductive analysis of transcripts using a codebook and member-checking.
Main Results:
- Painful experiences significantly affect families' lives and healthcare trajectories.
- A mismatch exists between families' pain management expectations and perceived care.
- Families feel compelled to advocate for better pain care but face intimidation and fear of dismissal.
Conclusions:
- Proactive pain management by healthcare professionals is desired by families.
- Poorly managed pain has a substantial impact on families.
- Healthcare providers should actively seek and be receptive to family input for improved pain care.
Abstract:
Current literature is lacking in describing families' experiences in being involved in children's pain management. This study sought to understand children and their parents' experiences with pain management at a tertiary care children's hospital. Twelve child-parent dyads were recruited to participate in the study from January to August 2022. Children and their parents chose whether to be interviewed together or separately. Transcripts were analyzed using inductive, data-driven codes. Codes and themes were developed using a codebook and member-checking. Three main themes were identified: a. Painful experiences can have a significant positive or negative effect on families' lives and healthcare trajectories; b. There can be a mismatch between families' expectations of pain management and how they perceive the pain was managed; c. Families feel that they must advocate for better pain care, but often feel too intimidated to do so, or worry that their concerns will be dismissed by healthcare professionals. Families want healthcare professionals to proactively manage their children's pain, supporting the shaping of early positive memories of the child's healthcare interactions. Healthcare providers must further recognize that poorly treated pain can significantly impact families' lives and should both seek and be receptive to child and parent input for better pain care.
