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Psychological barriers to optimal pain management in infants and children
1Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Insights
Psychological factors significantly impede optimal pain relief in children and adolescents. Addressing these barriers, including developmental and emotional aspects, is crucial for improving pain management outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Pain Management
- Child Development
Background:
- Effective pain management in pediatric populations is often hindered by psychological factors.
- Understanding these barriers is essential for advancing clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and discuss the various psychological barriers that prevent optimal pain relief in infants, children, and adolescents.
- To highlight the significance of these barriers in pediatric pain management.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive review of the professional and scientific literature on pediatric pain.
- Searches were conducted using Psychlit and Medline databases.
- Clinical experience with pediatric patients was also incorporated.
Main Results:
- Psychological barriers encompass cognitive and emotional developmental challenges.
- Perceived lack of control, children's knowledge, and attitudes also contribute to these barriers.
- Specific child characteristics can influence the experience of pain and its management.
Conclusions:
- The psychological barriers to achieving optimal pain relief in pediatric patients are substantial.
- Increased attention to these psychological factors can significantly improve pain management strategies and outcomes.
Objective:
To discuss the numerous psychological barriers to optimum pain relief in infants, children, and adolescents.
Data Sources:
The professional and scientific literature on pediatric pain was accessed by means of Psychlit and Medline searches. Our clinical experience with patients was also used.
Data Syntheses:
The potential barriers to optimum management were discussed in terms of cognitive and emotional developmental barriers, perceived lack of control, children's knowledge and attitudes, and characteristics of children.
Conclusions:
The psychological barriers to optimum pain relief are significant and attention to these barriers could lead to better pain management.