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Pharmacologic pain management in children: a review of intervention research

V E Maikler1

  • 1College of Nursing, Rush University, Chicago IL, USA.

Journal of Pediatric Nursing
|March 21, 1998
PubMed

Insights

This review highlights effective pharmacologic interventions for pediatric pain management in children. Research confirms that medications significantly reduce postoperative and procedural pain in young patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Pain Management Research
  • Clinical Pharmacology in Children

Background:

  • Growing interest in pediatric pain research over the last decade.
  • Need for synthesized evidence on pharmacological treatments for children's pain.
  • Focus on interventions for common pediatric pain conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and analyze studies on pharmacological interventions for pediatric pain.
  • To assess the efficacy of drug treatments in children.
  • To identify trends in pediatric pain research over the past ten years.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of 41 studies published in the last decade.
  • Inclusion criteria: prospective pharmacological trials, pediatric-only samples (>30 participants), randomized controlled trials, sufficient methodological detail.
  • Focus on studies addressing postoperative and procedural pain.

Main Results:

  • Pharmacological interventions were found to be effective in managing pediatric pain.
  • Studies predominantly focused on preschool-aged children and older.
  • Postoperative and procedural pain were the most common areas of investigation.

Conclusions:

  • Pharmacological agents are effective for treating pain in children.
  • Further research is warranted to explore a wider range of pediatric pain conditions and age groups.
  • Evidence supports the use of specific drug classes for common pediatric pain scenarios.

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