A Qualitative Study of the Pain Experiences of Children and Their Parents at a Canadian Children’s Hospital
Current literature is lacking in describing families’ experiences in being involved in children’s pain management. This study sought to understand children and their parents’ experiences with pain management at a tertiary care children’s hospital. Twelve child–parent dyads were recruited to particip...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/12/1796 |
| _version_ | 1797460901148753920 |
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| author | Elise Kammerer Joshua Eszczuk Katie Caldwell Jacob Dunn Sharon Appelman-Eszczuk Jennifer Dunn Megan MacNeil Samina Ali |
| author_facet | Elise Kammerer Joshua Eszczuk Katie Caldwell Jacob Dunn Sharon Appelman-Eszczuk Jennifer Dunn Megan MacNeil Samina Ali |
| author_sort | Elise Kammerer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Current literature is lacking in describing families’ experiences in being involved in children’s pain management. This study sought to understand children and their parents’ experiences with pain management at a tertiary care children’s hospital. Twelve child–parent dyads were recruited to participate in the study from January to August 2022. Children and their parents chose whether to be interviewed together or separately. Transcripts were analyzed using inductive, data-driven codes. Codes and themes were developed using a codebook and member-checking. Three main themes were identified: a. Painful experiences can have a significant positive or negative effect on families’ lives and healthcare trajectories; b. There can be a mismatch between families’ expectations of pain management and how they perceive the pain was managed; c. Families feel that they must advocate for better pain care, but often feel too intimidated to do so, or worry that their concerns will be dismissed by healthcare professionals. Families want healthcare professionals to proactively manage their children’s pain, supporting the shaping of early positive memories of the child’s healthcare interactions. Healthcare providers must further recognize that poorly treated pain can significantly impact families’ lives and should both seek and be receptive to child and parent input for better pain care. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:11:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c5680427330945d9bc19316e07e5ff3f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:11:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-c5680427330945d9bc19316e07e5ff3f2023-11-24T13:59:55ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672022-11-01912179610.3390/children9121796A Qualitative Study of the Pain Experiences of Children and Their Parents at a Canadian Children’s HospitalElise Kammerer0Joshua Eszczuk1Katie Caldwell2Jacob Dunn3Sharon Appelman-Eszczuk4Jennifer Dunn5Megan MacNeil6Samina Ali7Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, CanadaFaculty of Kinesiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H9, CanadaFaculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, CanadaFaculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, CanadaAlberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, CanadaAlberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, CanadaWomen and Children’s Health Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, CanadaDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, CanadaCurrent literature is lacking in describing families’ experiences in being involved in children’s pain management. This study sought to understand children and their parents’ experiences with pain management at a tertiary care children’s hospital. Twelve child–parent dyads were recruited to participate in the study from January to August 2022. Children and their parents chose whether to be interviewed together or separately. Transcripts were analyzed using inductive, data-driven codes. Codes and themes were developed using a codebook and member-checking. Three main themes were identified: a. Painful experiences can have a significant positive or negative effect on families’ lives and healthcare trajectories; b. There can be a mismatch between families’ expectations of pain management and how they perceive the pain was managed; c. Families feel that they must advocate for better pain care, but often feel too intimidated to do so, or worry that their concerns will be dismissed by healthcare professionals. Families want healthcare professionals to proactively manage their children’s pain, supporting the shaping of early positive memories of the child’s healthcare interactions. Healthcare providers must further recognize that poorly treated pain can significantly impact families’ lives and should both seek and be receptive to child and parent input for better pain care.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/12/1796pediatric painpain managementadvocacypatient perspectivesfamily-centred caretertiary healthcare |
| spellingShingle | Elise Kammerer Joshua Eszczuk Katie Caldwell Jacob Dunn Sharon Appelman-Eszczuk Jennifer Dunn Megan MacNeil Samina Ali A Qualitative Study of the Pain Experiences of Children and Their Parents at a Canadian Children’s Hospital Children pediatric pain pain management advocacy patient perspectives family-centred care tertiary healthcare |
| title | A Qualitative Study of the Pain Experiences of Children and Their Parents at a Canadian Children’s Hospital |
| title_full | A Qualitative Study of the Pain Experiences of Children and Their Parents at a Canadian Children’s Hospital |
| title_fullStr | A Qualitative Study of the Pain Experiences of Children and Their Parents at a Canadian Children’s Hospital |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Qualitative Study of the Pain Experiences of Children and Their Parents at a Canadian Children’s Hospital |
| title_short | A Qualitative Study of the Pain Experiences of Children and Their Parents at a Canadian Children’s Hospital |
| title_sort | qualitative study of the pain experiences of children and their parents at a canadian children s hospital |
| topic | pediatric pain pain management advocacy patient perspectives family-centred care tertiary healthcare |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/12/1796 |
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