Over a six-month time span, researchers collected data from eight children’s hospitals. The procedures ranged in comfort from uncomfortable to extremely painful. Researchers calculated how many times children received pain treatments, including medication, swaddling or distraction with video games. Their findings demonstrate for seven out of every 10 procedures, children received no pain treatment for their specific procedure, which can vary from suctioning fluids from the nose to inserting or removing intravenous lines or catheters.
Although the data showed children often received treatment for pain within 24 hours of the procedure, it wasn’t clear whether the pain treatment reduced the pain experienced from the procedure itself. Additionally, although researcher found physicians and nurses were more likely to provide pain treatment for more painful procedures, less painful procedures were much less likely to be accompanied by pain treatment.
The lead researcher of the study said the low incidence of pain treatment could be due to lack of proper documentation by healthcare providers, according to the news report.
Read the news report about treatment of pediatric pain.
Read other coverage about pain management:
– 6 Questions on Whether ACOs Will Assist Pain Management
– LA Times: Pain Management Progressing But Still Complicated
– REMS and E-Prescribing Requirements Onerous for Pain Physicians
