Related Experiment Videos
Procedural pain in a paediatric surgical emergency unit
1Department of Paediatric Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Karolinska Hospital, St. Göran, Stockholm, Sweden.
Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|December 1, 1995
Summary
Pediatric procedural pain in emergency settings is unacceptably high. Children perceive more pain than parents or nurses, highlighting a gap in pain management understanding and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Pain Management
- Child Health
Background:
- Procedural pain in children is a significant concern in pediatric emergency departments.
- Current pain assessment methods may not fully capture the child's experience.
- Effective pain management strategies are crucial for pediatric patients undergoing procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess pain experienced by children during procedures in a pediatric surgical emergency department.
- To compare pain ratings between children, parents, and nurses.
- To identify factors influencing pain perception and management.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for children over 10 and Smiley Five-Face Scale for children aged 3-9.
- Collected data from nurses, parents, and children regarding pain, medication, and behavior.
- Assessed specific procedures like balanitis irrigation, fracture treatment, and paronychia treatment for pain levels.
Main Results:
- Irrigation of glans penis, fracture treatment, and paronychia were identified as most painful procedures.
- 44% of children cried, 16% fought restraint, and 24% exhibited panic during procedures.
- Children reported higher pain scores than parents and nurses, with poor correlation between their estimates.
Conclusions:
- Pain experienced during pediatric emergency procedures is unacceptably high.
- Discrepancies exist between children's, parents', and nurses' pain assessments.
- Parents require better information on pain treatment options; children need access to advanced pain management.