Perri R Tutelman1,2, Christine T Chambers1,2,3, Jennifer N Stinson4,5,6,7, Jennifer A Parker2, Conrad V Fernandez3,8, Holly O Witteman9,10,11, Paul C Nathan5,12,13, Melanie Barwick5,6,14, Fiona Campbell5,7, Lindsay A Jibb15, Karen Irwin16. 1. Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience. 2. Centre for Pediatric Pain Research. 3. Pediatrics, Dalhousie University. 4. Faculty of Nursing. 5. Faculty of Medicine. 6. Research Institute. 7. Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. 8. Division of Pediatric Haematology/Oncology, IWK Health Centre Halifax, Nova Scotia. 9. Department of Family and Emergency Medicine. 10. Office of Education and Professional Development, Laval University. 11. Research Centre of the CHU de Québec-Université Laval Quebec, Quebec. 12. Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children Toronto, Ontario. 13. Institute of Health and Policy Management and Evaluation. 14. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. 15. School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa. 16. Cancer Knowledge Network Milton, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Pain is a common and distressing symptom of pediatric cancer, as reported by both children and their parents. Increasingly, children with cancer are cared for as outpatients, yet little is known about how parents manage their cancer-related pain. The aim of the current study was to examine pain prevalence and characteristics, and the pharmacological, physical, and psychological pain management strategies used by parents to manage their child's cancer pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 230 parents and caregivers (89% mothers) of children (mean age=8.93 y, SD=4.50) with cancer currently in treatment or who are survivors completed an online survey about their child's pain in the preceding month. RESULTS: Results indicated that children with cancer who were on active treatment and who were posttreatment experienced clinically significant levels of pain. Parents reported using more physical and psychological strategies than pharmacological strategies to manage their child's pain. The most frequently used physical/psychological strategy was distraction and acetaminophen was the most frequently administered pain medication. Parents' confidence in managing their child's pain was inversely associated with both how much pain they perceived their child had, and also whether they had given any pain medication. DISCUSSION: The results of this study suggest that despite parents' use of pain management strategies, management of cancer-related pain continues to be a problem for children during treatment and into survivorship.
OBJECTIVES:Pain is a common and distressing symptom of pediatric cancer, as reported by both children and their parents. Increasingly, children with cancer are cared for as outpatients, yet little is known about how parents manage their cancer-related pain. The aim of the current study was to examine pain prevalence and characteristics, and the pharmacological, physical, and psychological pain management strategies used by parents to manage their child's cancer pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 230 parents and caregivers (89% mothers) of children (mean age=8.93 y, SD=4.50) with cancer currently in treatment or who are survivors completed an online survey about their child's pain in the preceding month. RESULTS: Results indicated that children with cancer who were on active treatment and who were posttreatment experienced clinically significant levels of pain. Parents reported using more physical and psychological strategies than pharmacological strategies to manage their child's pain. The most frequently used physical/psychological strategy was distraction and acetaminophen was the most frequently administered pain medication. Parents' confidence in managing their child's pain was inversely associated with both how much pain they perceived their child had, and also whether they had given any pain medication. DISCUSSION: The results of this study suggest that despite parents' use of pain management strategies, management of cancer-related pain continues to be a problem for children during treatment and into survivorship.
Authors: Sara Zarnegar-Lumley; Katharine R Lange; Melissa D Mathias; Miho Nakajima-Hatano; Katharine M Offer; Ugochi O Ogu; Michael V Ortiz; Kay See Tan; Michael Kellick; Shakeel Modak; Stephen S Roberts; Ellen M Basu; R Scott Dingeman Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2019-08 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Julia D H P Simon; Sasja A Schepers; Martha A Grootenhuis; Maarten Mensink; Angelique D Huitema; Wim J E Tissing; Erna M C Michiels Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2021-06-16 Impact factor: 3.603