Pain assessment in children

Acute pain in children can occur following trauma and injury or secondary to medical and surgical intervention. Before acute pain can be effectively treated, it must be accurately assessed. In spite of many years of research to enhance our understanding of pain, the assessment of pain in children continues to be a challenge and is often inconsistent and suboptimal in many organizations. Pain and its perception are multifactorial, hence an approach to pain assessment and treatment must also be multifaceted and multidisciplinary. Painful experiences are dynamic, with huge inter- and intra-individual variation; therefore pain assessment tools must be adaptable, reproducible and accurate to accommodate such variation. This article outlines the different tools available for pain assessment in infants and children (excluding neonates).     

Pain assessment in children

Acute pain in children can occur following trauma and injury or secondary to medical and surgical intervention. Before acute pain can be effectively treated, it must be accurately assessed. In spite of many years of research to enhance our understanding of pain, the assessment of pain in children continues to be inconsistent and suboptimal in many organizations. Pain and its perception are multi-factorial, hence an approach to pain assessment and treatment must also be multi-faceted and multidisciplinary. Painful experiences are dynamic, with huge inter- and intra-individual variability, therefore pain assessment tools must be adaptable, reproducible and accurate to accommodate such variability. This article outlines the different tools available for pain assessment in infants and children (excluding neonates).     

Postoperative pain assessment in preverbal children and children with cognitive impairment

Postoperative pain assessment and management in preverbal children and children with cognitive impairment poses major challenges to pediatric anesthesiologists. An accurate diagnosis of extent of pain is the keystone for the successful management of pain. This article reviews the neurobiology of pain at birth, long-term consequences of early pain and different pediatric pain assessment tools used for postoperative assessment in infants, young children, and children with cognitive disabilities.     

Assessment of acute and chronic pain

Acute and chronic pain states are under-recognized and under-treated. The assessment of pain and evaluation of treatment requires repeated measurement of pain intensity using reliable and well-validated scales. Sensory components of pain must also be assessed and in particular, the diagnosis of neuropathic pain should not be missed as this diagnosis may direct treatment and potentially alter long-term outcomes. Several neuropathic screening tools are available to aid the detection and monitoring of neuropathic pain but importantly, a clinical examination is essential to corroborate this diagnosis. The further assessment of chronic pain should involve a thorough assessment of global function and quality of life using reliable and well-validated screening tools. In particular, physical and emotional functioning should be monitored.     

Paediatric chronic pain

Chronic pain in childhood is common and if untreated may lead to significant pain-related disability, emotional disturbance and poor school attendance. Many children and adolescents are successfully managed outside of specialist paediatric pain management clinics in a wide range of clinical settings. However, some children require the expertise of a multidisciplinary pain management team in a dedicated paediatric centre. Following multidisciplinary assessment an individualized pain management plan is agreed with the family. Treatment options can be classified into pharmacological, physical and psychological therapies. The aim of treatment is to facilitate a restoration of function for the child, working with the family as a whole.     

Paediatric chronic pain

Many children and adolescents experience chronic pain at some point in their childhood. While the majority may be successfully supported by their local services, some may develop persistent pain-related functional disability that should prompt referral to a multidisciplinary paediatric pain service for assessment. These teams work with the family to provide a framework for promoting rehabilitation and restoration of function based on the biopsychosocial model. Mental health difficulties including psychological trauma are often a significant factor. Individualized therapeutic work is core to the pain management pathway. Medications and therapeutic injections are used less frequently in children compared to adult practice but may have a role in facilitating rehabilitation as part of a multidisciplinary approach.     

Cancer pain management

Pain occurs in more than 80% of cancer patients before death. Because of the increase in the frequency of cancer deaths worldwide, it is imperative to address cancer pain as a public health problem. Until recently, educational efforts were focused on treatment issues rather than adequate assessment. The approach to pain intensity as a multidimensional construct has helped in focusing treatments and identifying prognostic factors. Valid tools have been developed that allow multidisciplinary assessment of these prognostic factors and their complex interrelationship with the analgesic response. As a result of increased opioid exposure, patients are currently developing newer toxicities, mostly central excitability including delirium, myoclonus, grand mal seizures, and hyperalgesia. The observation that more than 80% of patients will require alternate routes for opioid delivery before death led to the development of a number of novel and effective alternate routes for delivery. Finally, in recent years it has become evident that some specific pain syndromes need to be addressed using specific assessment and management techniques. Incidental pain, somatization, neuropathic pain, and cancer pain in patients with alcoholism and drug addiction are some of these syndromes.     

Evaluation and assessment of cancer pain and cancer pain treatment

Evaluation and assessment are the first steps of any strategy for the management of cancer pain, and are fundamental for any clinical research project in this field. Different clinical systems for evaluation and classification of cancer pain syndromes are available and their clinical usefulness should be tested. The measurement of pain intensity is necessary to document and assess the outcome of established and new treatments. Visual analogue scales, verbal and numerical rating scales and some multidimensional tools such as the Brief Pain Inventory and the McGill Pain Questionnaire are helpful in the assessment of cancer pain provided the limitations of their validity are considered. Specific questions arise when these tools are used in long-term repeated assessments of cancer patients. Assessment and measuring techniques deserve more investigations to optimize standard valid procedures and to enable us to exchange clinical information and produce comparable data in research.     

Pain management in children with and without cognitive impairment following spine fusion surgery

BACKGROUND: We compared pain assessment and management practices in children with and without cognitive impairment (CI) undergoing spine fusion surgery. METHODS: The medical records of 42 children (19 with CI and 23 without) were reviewed and data related to demographics, surgery, pain assessment and management, and side-effects were recorded. RESULTS: Fewer children with CI were assessed for pain on postoperative days (POD) 0-4 compared to those without CI (P < 0.002). Self-report was used for 81% of pain assessments in children without CI, while a behavioural tool was used for 75% of assessments in cognitively impaired children. Children with CI received smaller total opioid doses on POD 1-3 compared to those without CI (P < or = 0.02). Furthermore, children without CI received patient/nurse-controlled analgesia for more postoperative days than children with CI (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate a discrepancy in pain management practices in children with and without CI following spine fusion.     

Acute pain management in the neonate

Management of acute pain in the neonate is challenging and involves a multimodal approach using non-pharmacological and pharmacological techniques after pain assessment using appropriate tools. Simplicity equates to safety in these vulnerable patients.     

Measurement of clinical outcomes in pain medicine

How we measure pain and patients’ responses to pain is key in developing both our understanding and treatment of it. This article outlines the application of tools for the measurement of clinical outcomes used in acute and chronic pain medicine; what makes a good outcome measurement and how this can be utilized in clinical and research practice is discussed. Various tools for outcome measurement are described including those which may be utilized in various patient groups.     

The pain‐free ward: myth or reality

Over the last 25 years, pediatric care has changed dramatically with increased survival after premature birth, more complex care, better outcomes, and reduced mortality. There is a better understanding of how pain pathways and receptor systems develop and also how to assess pain at different stages of development. The myth that children do not feel pain has been comprehensively dispelled. Safe analgesic dose regimens for neonates, infants, and children have been developed based upon a better understanding of developmental pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. It is a myth that pain in children cannot be prevented or treated safely and effectively because of the risks of adverse effects and addiction. Large‐scale prospective audits have clarified the safety profile and risk–benefit balance for different techniques. There is now a substantial evidence base supporting many techniques of postoperative and procedural pain management for all age‐groups of children. Guidelines based upon systematic review of this evidence have been published and updated, but the real challenge is in implementation of accurate pain assessment and safe, effective pain management comprehensively to all children whatever the procedure, clinical setting, developmental stage of the child, or comorbidities. In developed countries, these are core topics in the education of all doctors and nurses who care for children, and they are integrated into clinical practice by acute pediatric pain teams for most hospitals. However, it is disappointing that many country’s healthcare systems do not give pediatric pain management a priority and in many parts of the world there are no analgesics available. So pain‐free healthcare is sadly lacking in many hospitals. My hope is that the current knowledge can be used more effectively to relieve the unnecessary suffering of children in the 21st century.     

Pain Assessment in INTensive care (PAINT): an observational study of physician‐documented pain assessment in 45 intensive care units in the United Kingdom

Pain is a common and distressing symptom experienced by intensive care patients. Assessing pain in this environment is challenging, and published guidelines have been inconsistently implemented. The Pain Assessment in INTensive care (PAINT) study aimed to evaluate the frequency and type of physician pain assessments with respect to published guidelines. This observational service evaluation considered all pain and analgesia‐related entries in patients’ records over a 24‐h period, in 45 adult intensive care units (ICUs) in London and the South‐East of England. Data were collected from 750 patients, reflecting the practice of 362 physicians. Nearly two‐thirds of patients (n = 475, 64.5%, 95%CI 60.9–67.8%) received no physician‐documented pain assessment during the 24‐h study period. Just under one‐third (n = 215, 28.6%, 95%CI 25.5–32.0%) received no nursing‐documented pain assessment, and over one‐fifth (n = 159, 21.2%, 95%CI 19.2–23.4)% received neither a doctor nor a nursing pain assessment. Two of the 45 ICUs used validated behavioural pain assessment tools. The likelihood of receiving a physician pain assessment was affected by the following factors: the number of nursing assessments performed; whether the patient was admitted as a surgical patient; the presence of tracheal tube or tracheostomy; and the length of stay in ICU. Physician‐documented pain assessments in the majority of participating ICUs were infrequent and did not utilise recommended behavioural pain assessment tools. Further research to identify factors influencing physician pain assessment behaviour in ICU, such as human factors or cultural attitudes, is urgently needed.     

Neck and back pain specific outcome assessment questionnaires in the Spanish language: a systematic literature review

Background contextAccurate measurement of functional improvement in clinical practice is becoming increasingly recognized as essential in demonstrating whether patients are deriving meaningful benefit from care. Several simple questionnaires have been developed for this purpose. The majority of these have been developed in English. In North America, there is a growing need for clinical tools, including outcome assessment tools that are available in the Spanish language.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature regarding spine-specific outcome assessment questionnaires that are available in Spanish and to examine the evidence on their clinical utility.Study designSystematic review.MethodsThe Medline, CINAHL, Embase, and MANTIS databases were searched for any studies on the topic of outcome assessment questionnaires in the Spanish language. Relevant articles were reviewed, and the data on reliability, validity, time to completion, and any other properties of the questionnaire was extracted.ResultsThe search strategy identified 287 articles, of which 10 were deemed relevant. With regard to neck pain, data were found regarding Spanish translations of the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and Core Outcome Measure for neck pain. With regard to low back pain, data were found regarding Spanish translations of the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index (ODI), Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMQ), and the North American Spine Society—American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons questionnaire.ConclusionsSeveral reliable and valid outcome assessment questionnaires are available in the Spanish language. All were originally developed in English. It appears from the data reviewed that the most useful instruments are the NDI for neck pain patients and the ODI and RMQ for low back pain patients. The current trend is for the development of culturally adapted versions of these questionnaires that are specific to a particular country or region.     

Validating the Derbyshire Children's Hospital Pain Tool: a pilot study

BACKGROUND: The Derbyshire Children's Hospital Paediatric Pain Chart (DPC) is the current pain assessment tool used at the Derbyshire Children's Hospital. It was originally devised as a simple pain tool for use in the clinical area, and it is applicable for use in children of all ages within the postoperative setting. The pain assessment chart encompasses pain assessment by utilizing facial expression, body movement and verbal expression. An exploratory study was performed to define its reliability and validity. METHODS: The research nurse (V.P.) assessed 40 children aged 1-5 undergoing minor and intermediate surgery comparing the Toddler Preschooler Postoperative Pain Scale and the DPC. Assessments were performed preoperatively and for 4 h postoperatively. Any analgesia administered postoperatively was recorded. RESULTS: All the children scored 0 preoperatively with both pain scales, thus demonstrating known groups validity. There were 116 dual assessments by the research nurse using both pain scales. There was a strong correlation (r = 0.89) demonstrating convergent validity. There was a significant correlation between 182 joint assessments by the research nurse (V.P.) and the nursing staff using the DPC (Spearmans rank correlation, 0.81) and the Cronbach alpha coefficient ranged from 0.83 to 0.98. Construct validity was demonstrated by a fall in the mean pain scores from 1.8 to 0.1 following analgesia in 19 children. CONCLUSIONS: This exploratory study suggests the DPC holds construct, convergent and known groups validity and is a reliable pain assessment tool for children aged 1-5 years undergoing minor and intermediate surgery.     

Pain management and quality in healthcare

Management of pain in the acute peri-operative setting still leaves a significant number of patients suffering from moderate to severe pain. In order to improve this, it is important to understand the underlying mechanisms of pain perception, and be able to apply this to clinical settings. Effective assessment of pain is needed, with re-assessment to detect treatment efficacy. Meta-analyses and systematic reviews are available for many of the analgesic therapies used, and this can be used as a basis for formulating an effective management plan. By optimizing pain management in the peri-operative period, and utilizing this, it should be possible to minimize resultant disability and hospital stay.     

Managing painful chronic wounds: the Wound Pain Management Model

Chronic wound pain is not well understood and the literature is limited. Six of 10 patients venous leg ulcer experience pain with their ulcer, and similar trends are observed for other chronic wounds. Chronic wound pain can lead to depression and the feeling of constant tiredness. Pain related to the wound should be handled as one of the main priorities in chronic wound management together with addressing the cause. Management of pain in chronic wounds depends on proper assessment, reporting and documenting patient experiences of pain. Assessment should be based on six critical dimensions of the pain experience: location, duration, intensity, quality, onset and impact on activities of daily living. Holistic management must be based on a safe and effective mix of psychosocial approaches together with local and systemic pain management. It is no longer acceptable to ignore or inadequately document persistent wound pain and not to develop a treatment and monitoring strategy to improve the lives of persons with chronic wounds. Unless wound pain is optimally managed, patient suffering and costs to health care systems will increase.     

Assessment of pain in chronic wounds: A survey of Australian health care practitioners

Pain associated with chronic wounds can delay wound healing, affects quality of life, and has a major impact on physical, emotional, and cognitive function. However, wound‐related pain is often under‐assessed and may therefore be suboptimally managed. The aim of this study was to describe the assessment practices used to assess chronic wound pain by health practitioners in Australia. A structured self‐administered questionnaire was posted to members of an Australian national wound care organisation, whose membership represents various health practitioners involved in wound management. A total of 1190 (53%) members completed the survey. Overall, wound pain assessment was most commonly conducted at every consultation or wound dressing change (n = 718/1173, 61%). Nurses were more likely to assess wound‐related pain before, during, and after the wound dressing procedures compared with other health care practitioners. In contrast, podiatrists assessed wound pain only when the patient complained about the pain. The most common assessment method was simply talking to the patient (n = 1005/1180, 85%). Two‐thirds of practitioners used a validated pain assessment tool. The most commonly used tool was the numerical analogue scale (n = 524/1175, 46%). In summary, these findings suggest that there is no consistent method for the assessment of wound‐related pain, and there are substantial variations in how and when wound‐related pain is assessed between different professions.