How Much Do Parents Know About Pain in Their Children?

Pediatric Emergency Care
|December 29, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Many parents lack accurate knowledge regarding pediatric pain management, highlighting a need for educational programs. Improving parental understanding is crucial for effective pain assessment and treatment in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Pain Management
  • Parental Education

Background:

  • Effective pain management is critical for pediatric patients in emergency settings.
  • Parental understanding of children's pain significantly impacts treatment efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess parental knowledge of pediatric pain.
  • To identify common misconceptions affecting children's pain management.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a 9-item anonymous questionnaire.
  • Participants included parents/guardians of children aged 0-18 admitted to the emergency department.

Main Results:

  • Higher education levels correlated with more correct answers regarding pediatric pain.
  • Parents in healthcare professions demonstrated better knowledge than others.
  • Spanish parents showed greater understanding compared to those from the Americas.

Conclusions:

  • A significant proportion of parents hold misconceptions about pediatric pain expression.
  • Educational initiatives are necessary to improve parental ability to identify, evaluate, and treat pain in children.
Abstract

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