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Childhood pain: the school-aged child's viewpoint
Dorothea M Ross1, Sheila A Ross
1Department of Pediatrics A203, University of California Medical School, San Francisco, CA 94143, U.S.A. Research Institute, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, 860 Bryant Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301 U.S.A.
Pain
|October 1, 1984
Summary
Children can describe pain effectively, but their understanding of pain is limited, regardless of age or sex. Coping strategies are underutilized, and concerning patterns of maladaptive pain use were observed in this study.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Child Health Research
- Pain Management in Children
Background:
- Childhood pain is a significant health concern.
- Understanding children's perception and management of pain is crucial for effective interventions.
- Limited research exists on the developmental understanding of pain in school-aged children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the knowledge, understanding, and communication of pain in school-aged children.
- To explore children's pain experiences, coping strategies, and pain usage.
- To identify factors influencing children's perception and management of pain, including hospitalization and chronic conditions.
Main Methods:
- Interview study with 994 Northern Californian school children (ages 5-12).
- Participants grouped by hospitalization experience, chronic pain conditions, and iatrogenic pain.
- Open-ended questions assessed pain knowledge, description, experiences, coping, information preferences, and pain usage.
Main Results:
- Children demonstrated effective communication regarding their pain experiences.
- Most children exhibited a low developmental level of pain knowledge and understanding.
- No significant age or sex differences were found in pain understanding; coping strategy use was low.
- A concerning frequency of maladaptive pain usage was identified.
Conclusions:
- While children can articulate their pain, their cognitive understanding is underdeveloped.
- Interventions should focus on enhancing children's pain knowledge and promoting effective coping mechanisms.
- Addressing maladaptive pain usage is essential for improving pediatric pain management outcomes.