The assessment and management of chronic pain in children

Participation in everyday life for young people with chronic pain in Saudi Arabia: "you feel lacking in life and you feel that time is flying by"

Introduction

Chronic pain is a common health problem that can have a significant impact on children and young people's daily life. Although research on pediatric chronic pain has been a priority globally, little is known about young people's experience of chronic pain in Saudi Arabia. Thus, this article reports on young people's experience of chronic pain and the impact on their lives in Saudi Arabia which forms part of a larger study.

Methods

Multiple case study design following Yin's (2018) approach was used. Purposeful and theoretical sampling were used to recruit young people aged 12 to 18 who had experienced chronic pain for at least three months, their parents, and their school personnel. The young people and their parents were recruited from a tertiary hospital located on the western side of Saudi Arabia while school personnel were recruited from the schools that young people attended. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured face-to-face (n = 15) and telephone interviews (n = 25) from 40 participants (10 young people, 10 parents, and 20 school personnel). Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and translated from Arabic to English. Data were analyzed following two phases: (1) constant comparative analysis; and (2) cross-case analysis based on the work of Charmaz (2014) and Yin (2018) respectively.

Findings

Young people's experiences of chronic pain were categorized into three themes: (1) experiencing chronic pain; (2) impact of pain on quality of life; and (3) everyday strategies to manage chronic pain. All young people reported that their pain was caused by a chronic condition, where the most prevalent pains were musculoskeletal/joint pain, abdominal pain, and headache/migraine. Most young people had encountered challenges with misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis as to the cause of their chronic pain. They described how their chronic pain interfered with their physical, psychological, and social functioning. They primarily managed their pain with medications and through self-care techniques. The findings also indicated that young people's generally positive attitude to their pain reflected their beliefs in Allah's power and the belief that such suffering should be borne according to their Islamic culture.

Conclusion

Chronic pain is a significant health phenomenon that tends to restrict the participation of young people in everyday life. However young people used a range of strategies to normalize the pain so that they could continue with their everyday activities like their peers.

Memojis Pain Scale: A novel pain assessment tool

BACKGROUND

Dental pain exerts a considerable impact on the psychosocial well-being of children; reliable management of pain depends on the ability to assess pain intensity.

AIM

To validate and compare a new memojis pain assessment scale with the Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R) and Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WBFPS) in assessing dental pain experienced by children.

DESIGN

Two hundred and fifty healthy children aged 5-9 years without any past dental experience and requiring local anaesthesia (LA) administration were recruited. Three different scales [FPS-R, WBFPS and Memojis Pain Scale (MPS)] were applied to assess the children's pain during LA administration. The preferences of each child based on the ease of understanding the faces were recorded.

RESULTS

Pearson correlation test was performed to determine the correlation between MPS with WBFPS and MPS with FPS-R. A strong correlation was seen when comparing MPS with WBFPS (r = .966; p < .001) and MPS with FPS-R (r = .969; p < .001), and 81.6% of the children preferred MPS.

CONCLUSION

The Memojis Pain Scale was an effective pain assessment tool. It can be employed as an alternative scale for pain assessment in children.

Parents Reliably Identify Pain Dismissal by Pediatric Providers

OBJECTIVES

Approximately 40% of children and adolescents with chronic pain report at least 1 dismissal experience, citing medical providers and parents as the primary and most distressing dismissers. Previous research indicates sex differences in pain dismissal experience and observer pain perception. This study examined parental reactions to dismissive provider-child scenarios and the influence of provider and patient sex on perceptions.

METHODS

Community parents (N=326) completed an online survey. Parents were randomized to listen to 1 of 8 vignettes of a provider-child chronic pain scenario. Vignettes varied by type of scenario (appropriate vs. dismissive)×provider sex×patient sex.

RESULTS

Overall, parents rated the dismissive scenario more negatively. There was a significant interaction between provider sex and scenario regarding likelihood to bring their own child to this provider and a significant 3-way interaction regarding provider belief of the pain complaint. When asked how they would feel if this was their own child, parents who heard the dismissive scenario reported more negative reactions. When asked what they would say to the provider, parents in the dismissive condition were more likely to defend their child and request a second opinion.

DISCUSSION

Parents consistently identified the dismissive language in a child and provider scenario. Female providers and sex-matched dyads seem to be more polarizing in terms of likelihood to bring their child to the provider and belief of pain, respectively. Providers within these groups may need to be especially cautious with their language when responding to pediatric chronic pain complaints.

The development of an iPad application for the pain assessment of individuals with developmental disabilities and complex communication needs

Aims: Develop a new pain assessment for youth with communication challenges. The Guard-Putzer Pain Assessment Domains (gPAD) mobile application (app) was designed and tested as a universally accessible way for youth, ages 7-12 years, with a developmental disability (DD) to express their pain experiences through self-report. Methods: A two-phase process developed the design for an app, created an interactive prototype, and tested its face validity and user interface. This work included a comprehensive scoping review of current assessments and pain apps as well as a survey to obtain descriptive data on the clinical practicality of the gPAD to guide the app design. Additionally, 15 therapists reviewed the gPAD assessment. Results: Thirteen respondents (87%) agreed to the statement that they would use the gPAD for this population. School-based practitioners seemed to highlight the most significant needs for the app. Conclusions: Advancement of this app could mainstream the assessment of pain in youth with DD, and other potential populations.

Considerations for neonatal and pediatric pain management

PURPOSE

Current literature and clinical practice guidelines on pediatric pain management are reviewed.

SUMMARY

Acute pain is commonly present in neonatal and pediatric patients due to underlying disease states or procedures. Especially in institutions with limited pediatric pain services, it is imperative to describe the appropriate management of pain and pharmacotherapy options that are effective and safe in pediatric patients. Despite the knowledge of pain being an important aspect in the management of children, barriers exist, leading to suboptimal treatment. Addressing these barriers through education of healthcare practitioners, families, and patients will lead to optimizing the patient pain experience. Tools for pain assessment vary depending on the type of pain, the child's age and understanding of pain, and the clinical situation. Pharmacotherapy options for pain management in neonates and pediatric patients include opioid and nonopioid agents. Efficacy and safety data on the use of medications for the treatment of pain in pediatric patients is described. The delivery of medication encompasses patient-specific factors and preferences. Strategies for opioid stewardship and management of iatrogenic withdrawal pose a unique challenge in pediatric patients.

CONCLUSION

The management of acute pain in neonates and pediatric patients should be a priority for all practitioners caring for these patients. Use of age-appropriate pain assessment tools and understanding of the mechanisms of action and roles in therapy of various nonopioid and opioid therapies can help optimize treatment of pain in neonatal and pediatric patients.

Trends in antidepressant use among children and adolescents: a Scandinavian drug utilization study

OBJECTIVE

To compare antidepressant utilization in individuals aged 5-19 years from the Scandinavian countries.

METHODS

A population-based drug utilization study using publicly available data of antidepressant use from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

RESULTS

In the study period from 2007 to 2017, the proportion of antidepressant users increased markedly in Sweden (9.3-18.0/1000) compared to Norway (5.1-7.6/1000) and Denmark (9.3-7.5/1000). In 2017, the cumulated defined daily doses (DDD) of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were 5611/1000 inhabitants in Sweden, 2709/1000 in Denmark, and 1848/1000 in Norway. The use of 'other antidepressants' (ATC code N06AX) also increased in Sweden with a higher DDD in 2017 (497/1000) compared to Denmark (225/1000) and Norway (170/1000). The use of tricyclic antidepressants was generally low in 2017 with DDDs ranging between 30-42 per 1000. The proportion of antidepressant users was highest among 15- to 19-year-old individuals. Girls were more likely to receive treatment than boys, and the treated female/male ratios per 1000 were similar in Sweden (2.39), Denmark (2.44), and Norway (2.63).

CONCLUSION

Even in highly comparable healthcare systems like the Scandinavian countries', variation in antidepressant use is considerable. Swedish children and adolescents have a markedly higher and still increasing use of antidepressants compared to Danish and Norwegian peers.

Evaluating Differential Effects of Specific Pain Dismissal Interactions With Physicians

OBJECTIVES

Over 40% of adolescents with chronic pain report experiencing pain dismissal, which is a response from another individual that is perceived as diminishing, denying, or disbelieving an individual's report of pain. Pain dismissal by physicians often leaves patients feeling discredited, which may discourage them from seeking and receiving proper treatment for their pain. The purpose of this study was to investigate how the 4 most commonly reported types of physician pain dismissal differentially affect individuals' reactions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Emerging adults, age 18- to 25-years old (N=352, 60% female), were randomly assigned to read 1 of 4 vignettes describing patient-provider interactions that included the most commonly reported types of pain dismissal identified by previous research: denial/disbelief, minimizing, faking for secondary gain, and psychogenic. Participants answered questions regarding their reactions to the pain dismissal vignettes.

RESULTS

All 4 vignettes were perceived as dismissive and problematic by the majority of participants, but participants who read the psychogenic pain dismissal vignette were less dissatisfied overall with the hypothetical medical appointment than participants who read the other 3 vignettes.

DISCUSSION

All 4 types of physician pain dismissal were broadly perceived negatively, suggesting that the experience of pain dismissal is likely not due to patient hypersensitivity but to physician behavior. Discussion of the psychological factors associated with pain was less likely to be perceived as dismissive. Psychologists and physicians should collaborate to develop recommended language that validates patients' experiences of pain, communicates appropriate levels of empathy, and reduces the frequency of perceived physician pain dismissal.

Transdermal Fentanyl for Cancer Pain Management in Opioid-Naive Pediatric Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND

 Transdermal therapeutic system fentanyl with a drug release rate of 12 µg/h should be of special value in pediatric cancer pain control. Such a fentanyl formulation allows for a stepwise dose increase, similar to that reported for sustained-release morphine.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

 Sixty-four male and female pediatric patients with moderate to severe chronic cancer pain, ages ranging 2-14 years, were included. Patients did not receive opioids prior to enrollment. Patients were observed for pain relief using the Visual Analog Scale and the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale, play performance score, and for side effects.

RESULTS

 There was significant improvement of visual analog scale and FACES pain scores from the baseline to the second day of application (P < 0.001). By the 15th day, scores reached 1.18 ± 0.393 and 1.13 ± 0.35, respectively (P < 0.001). Play performance scale improved from the third day of application of the patch when compared with the baseline (P < 0.001), reaching 55.02 ± 8.35 (P < 0.001) at the end of the study. The sedation score increased on the second day to 2 in 10 patients and to 3 in 54 patients. By the seventh day, 56 patients had a sedation score of 1. All patients returned to baseline by the 15th day. Itching was reported in 16 cases, and erythema occurred in 10 cases. No significant side effects were reported.

CONCLUSION

 Transdermal fentanyl was found to be an effective, safe, and well-tolerated treatment for pediatric cancer-related pain in opioid-naive patients with chronic moderate to severe pain. In this study population, evaluation of vital signs and physical examination did not suggest any safety concerns while using transdermal fentanyl.

Comparison of the satiating properties of egg- versus cereal grain-based breakfasts for appetite and energy intake control in children

BACKGROUND

Few studies exist that have systematically examined the role of protein, and egg protein in particular, in appetite and energy intake regulation in children.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of three different types of breakfast on appetite and energy intake at subsequent meals in children.

DESIGN

Forty children, ages 8-10, were served a compulsory breakfast (egg, cereal, or oatmeal) and lunch, consumed ad libitum, once a week for three weeks. Children's appetite ratings were assessed repeatedly throughout the morning. On each test day, caregivers completed food records, which captured children's intake for the remainder of the day.

RESULTS

There was a significant main effect of breakfast condition on energy intake at lunch (P=0.02) indicating that children consumed ~70 fewer calories at lunch following the egg breakfast (696 ± 53 kcal) compared to the cereal (767 ± 53 kcal) and oatmeal (765 ± 53 kcal) breakfasts. Calories consumed for the remainder of the day and daily energy intake did not differ across conditions (P>0.30). There also were no significant differences in children's appetite ratings between conditions (P>0.43).

CONCLUSIONS

Consuming an egg-based breakfast significantly reduced short-term, but not longer-term, energy intake in children in the absence of differences in appetite ratings.

Off-label use of duloxetine for pediatric neuropathic pain

Introduction

Duloxetine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, has been used successfully for adults for the management of neuropathic pain syndromes. Pediatric data are needed because inadequate neuropathic pain management in children and adolescents results in lower psychosocial functioning, delayed development, and decreased quality of life. We aim to describe a case series on the use of duloxetine for the management of symptoms associated with chronic neuropathic pain syndromes in a pediatric population.

Methods

Data were collected in a naturalistic, consecutive, case report format, from a pediatric pain management clinic for children prescribed duloxetine for analgesia for a variety of neuropathic-type pain conditions. Follow-up data, including self-report of pain, and type and frequency of adverse reactions, were collected to describe the efficacy and safety of duloxetine.

Results

Duloxetine was prescribed for the management of self-reported average pain scores of greater than 5 out of 10 on the Faces Pain Scale–Revised for pain that was resistant to other medications. Each of these patients had comorbid psychiatric diagnoses. Reduction in pain following duloxetine therapy was not universal, and all patients discontinued duloxetine therapy prematurely because of adverse effects.

Conclusion

Further evidence is needed to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of duloxetine for use in pediatric populations with neuropathic components to their pain. Based on our experience, we suggest considering its use only after failure of other agents. The best management of a pediatric patient's pain condition is likely accomplished through a combination of pharmacotherapy and nonpharmacotherapy interventions.

Effects on cognitive performance of eating compared with omitting breakfast in elementary schoolchildren

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this laboratory-based pilot study was to test the effects of consuming, compared with omitting, breakfast across 6 cognitive domains and on levels of perceived energy and well-being.

METHODS

In a crossover design, 21 boys and girls, 8 to 10 years of age, were assessed once a week for 2 weeks. On each test day, subjects performed a series of 8 computerized cognitive performance tasks using the CogState software program throughout the morning, but they either consumed or did not consume breakfast. In addition, subjects repeatedly rated their perceived energy level, fatigue, overall well-being, and cheerfulness using a 100-mm Visual Analog Scale.

RESULTS

Results showed no significant main effect of breakfast condition (p > .17) or breakfast condition-by-time interaction (p > .09) for any of the cognitive performance tasks. On the day when children consumed breakfast, they felt significantly more cheerful (p = .02) and indicated to have more energy (p = .04) than on the day when they skipped breakfast.

CONCLUSION

Among children who regularly consume breakfast, skipping breakfast once significantly decreased their perceived level of energy and cheerfulness, but it did not affect their cognitive performance throughout the morning. More experimental studies are needed to assess the effects of different types of breakfast on cognitive performance in children over a prolonged period of time while controlling for familial factors that may affect cognitive performance in children.

The Role of the Mental Health Practitioner in the Assessment and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Chronic Pain

Chronic and recurrent benign pain complaints are common among children and adolescents. Although many young persons with chronic pain adapt well, a small, but significant, proportion experience marked functional deficits. Pain can produce life disruptions, e.g. impeding activities and maturation, and interferes with family functioning. Conventional medically-based approaches have been inadequate in addressing chronic pain and its sequelae. Instead, effective management requires an interdisciplinary approach involving paediatricians and mental health practitioners working collaboratively to treat psychiatric comorbidities, enhance the patient's functional adaptation, restore the child or adolescent's maturational and social capabilities and reduce family disruptions.

Effects of eating breakfast compared with skipping breakfast on ratings of appetite and intake at subsequent meals in 8- to 10-y-old children

BACKGROUND

Cross-sectional data indicate an inverse relation between breakfast consumption and child weight. It has been suggested that skipping breakfast may adversely affect appetite in children, which could lead to overeating later in the day.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to test the effects of consuming breakfast compared with omitting breakfast on appetite ratings and energy intake at subsequent meals in 8- to 10-y-old children.

DESIGN

Twenty-one children participated in 2 test visits during which they were served either a compulsory breakfast or no breakfast. On both visits, subjects were also served lunch, which was consumed ad libitum. Subjects rated their appetite throughout the morning; parents completed food records that captured children's intake for the remainder of the day.

RESULTS

There was no significant main effect of breakfast condition on energy intake at lunch (P = 0.36) or throughout the remainder of the day (P = 0.85). There was a significant main effect of breakfast condition (P = 0.04) on total daily energy intake, which indicated that on the day when the subjects did not eat breakfast, they consumed 362 fewer calories over the course of the day than when they did eat breakfast. On the day when no breakfast was served, subjects indicated that they were significantly hungrier, less full, and could consume more food before lunch than on the day when they did eat breakfast (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Omitting breakfast affected children's appetite ratings but not their energy intake at subsequent meals. The dissonance between children's subjective ratings of prospective consumption and their actual intake should be further examined.

Prevalence and treatment of depression in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To describe the prevalence and treatment of comorbid depressive disorders in children and adolescents diagnosed with sickle cell disease.

METHOD

A retrospective cohort design evaluating South Carolina Medicaid medical and pharmacy claims between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2006, was employed to identify 2,194 children and adolescents aged 17 years and younger diagnosed with sickle cell disease. Cohorts diagnosed with and without comorbid unipolar depressive disorders (using DSM-IV-TR criteria) were then compared.

RESULTS

Forty-six percent of the sickle cell disease cohort was diagnosed with a depressive disorder (n = 1,017), either dysthymia (90%) or major depressive disorder (10%). Dysthymia was diagnosed at approximately 9 years of age, whereas major depressive disorder was diagnosed at approximately 14 years of age. Compared with the controls, the sickle cell disease cohort with depression had more acute vaso-occlusive pain and acute chest syndrome visits per year, developed more complications with related organ damage, and incurred significantly higher outpatient, acute (emergency + inpatient), and total sickle cell disease care costs. The depression cohort was primarily treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; 12%) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs; 10%) for approximately 9 months. Although alleviating the comorbid depression might positively affect their sickle cell disease pain, over 80% of the patients received no antidepressant medications, and many of the prescribed SSRIs and SNRIs have previously shown no impact on relieving chronic pain.

CONCLUSIONS

Comorbid depression in sickle cell disease is associated with adverse course and outcomes. These findings underscore the need for earlier and more aggressive treatment of comorbid depression by primary care or psychiatric providers in order to reduce the chronic, severe pain-depression burden on these patients.

Opioids for the management of severe chronic nonmalignant pain in children: a retrospective 1-year practice survey in a children's hospital

OBJECTIVE

This study reviewed opioid prescription for chronic severe nonmalignant pain in a multidisciplinary pediatric pain clinic. We looked at benefits and side effects of therapy, and compared our process of opioid prescription with the practice guidelines defined in adult literature.

DESIGN

Descriptive retrospective practice survey.

SETTING

Multidisciplinary pain clinic in a tertiary pediatric hospital.

PATIENTS

During a 12-month period, 104 patients were seen in the clinic, of which 49 received an opioid as part of their pain management; 11 received an opioid chronically, defined as more than 3 months in this study, and 5 of these were still on opioid at the end of the study period although data on one patient are lacking as she had been transferred to an adult clinic.

METHODS

Information about patients was obtained from chart review.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Benefits and side effects of treatment, as well as the process of prescribing opioids and follow-up.

RESULTS

In the four patients studied, there seem to be better pain control and improved function in these patients while on opioid therapy, despite minor side effects. We identified some areas of improvement in our practice and made recommendations for the use of opioids in pediatric chronic severe nonmalignant pain.

CONCLUSIONS

The evolution of our four patients seems to be in favor of treatment with an opioid for severe chronic nonmalignant pain in certain pediatric patients, in the context of prescribing in a multidisciplinary pain clinic with a multisystem approach to pain management although more data are needed to know if such therapy is safe and beneficial on a longer-term basis.

The effectiveness of non-pharmacological pain management in relieving chronic pain for children and adolescents

BACKGROUND

There is accumulating evidence that recurring pain symptoms in children are becoming a serious health concern. Children and adolescents who suffer from ongoing pain have negative outcomes not only to their physical health, but also to their emotional and spiritual health. Furthermore, recurrent pain in children may also cause a number of other negative consequences to the child, the family and society. Thus, a non-pharmacological approach to reduce the pain is vital to help children having better quality of life.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this review is to determine the best available evidence on the effectiveness of non-pharmacological pain management in relieving chronic pain for children and adolescents.

SEARCH STRATEGY

The search strategy aimed to find published studies, between 1956 and 2008 and limited to the English or Chinese languages. Reference lists of studies that met the inclusion criteria were searched for additional studies.

TYPES OF STUDIES

This review included any systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental design that explored the effectiveness of non-pharmacological intervention for chronic pain in children and adolescents.

TYPES OF PARTICIPANTS

Children and adolescents with cancer pain, Juvenile chronic arthritis, sickle cell disease, burn pain, chronic or recurrent abdominal pain, headache and aged 18 years old or less and suffering with pain for at least one month.

TYPES OF INTERVENTIONS

The review considered studies that examined non-pharmacological interventions in relieving chronic pain for children and adolescents that included heat wrap therapy, massage, chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (distraction & guided imagery), meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, self-hypnosis, biofeedback, music therapy, and dance training.

TYPES OF OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome measures included: (1) Behavioral variables, such as pain behavior, cognitive coping and appraisal, psychiatric reaction (anxiety and depression), and social activities, (2) Quality of life scores and (3) Pain scores.

TYPES OF SETTING

The review focuses on studies that operated either at a hospital or in a community setting.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Meta-analysis was used to pool the data from studies to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. The Comprehensive Meta Analysis V2 was used to manage the data.

RESULTS

The search process identified 43,100 studies that addressed the objectives of the review protocol. Fifty-four articles were selected for critical appraisal. Finally, 31 trials were considered to be eligible for the present review and 5 articles were excluded. Data was pooled together from eight articles using meta-analysis to examine the effectiveness of relaxation training of the pre-test and post-test of headache intensity. The findings show that the effective size was 0.323 with significant difference. Two of the articles evaluate the effectiveness of relaxation training for releasing the recurrent headaches for adolescents and the post-test data were collected over the following six months. The findings show that there is a statistically significance difference. Another two articles examined the effectiveness of a relaxation training program in reducing the sum of medication used of adolescents with recurrent headaches. The findings show that there is no statistical significance. Furthermore, the findings show that biofeedback treatment could improve the outcome of children and adolescents' headache, especially at 6 and 12 months after the treatment. In terms of psychosocial treatment, five articles examined the effectiveness of behavioral treatment, relaxation training program, cognitive behavior therapy, and acupuncture/ hypnosis intervention to reduce anxiety of children and adolescent with chronic pain. The various outcomes measures among the five studies.

CONCLUSIONS

This review has provided an evidence-based guide to future priorities for clinical practice. Relaxation programs could reduce recurrent headache and pain intensity in children and adolescents in the short term as well as lasting for three and six months. Furthermore, biofeedback treatment could reduce recurrent headache of pain intensity in children and adolescents in the short term and last for as long as six months.

Transdermal fentanyl in the management of children with chronic severe pain: results from an international study

BACKGROUND

The current study was conducted to assess the safety and tolerability of a transdermal fentanyl delivery system for the relief of chronic pain in a pediatric population, and also to validate titration recommendations and conversion to transdermal fentanyl from oral opioid therapy.

METHODS

This 15-day (with 3-month extension), single-arm, open-label trial was conducted at 66 sites in 10 countries. A total of 199 pediatric patients (ages 2-16 years) with both malignant and nonmalignant conditions who were receiving oral or parenteral opioids for moderate to severe chronic pain were enrolled. Transdermal fentanyl doses were titrated upward according to the rescue medication consumed during the previous application period. Degree of pain was assessed by patients and parents/guardians using visual and numeric scales. Level of play and quality of life were assessed using the Play Performance Scale (PPS) and the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ). Adverse events were monitored on Days 1-15. Hypoventilation and sedation were monitored every 4 hours during the first 72 hours of the study.

RESULTS

A total of 173 patients completed the primary treatment period and 130 entered the extension phase. The average daily pain intensity scores were reported to have decreased by Day 16 and improvements in the mean PPS scores were observed to the end of the extension period. The CHQ scores demonstrated improvements in 11 of 12 domains after Month 1 of the extension period.

CONCLUSIONS

Transdermal fentanyl was found to be a safe and well tolerated alternative to oral opioid treatment for children ages 2-16 years who were previously exposed to opioid therapy.

Pain management in children: developmental considerations and mind-body therapies

One of the most challenging roles of medical providers serving children is to appropriately assess and treat their pain. Pain is one of the most misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and undertreated/ untreated medical problems, particularly in children. New JCAHO regulations regard pain as "the fifth vital sign" and require caregivers to regularly assess and address pain. This review focuses on the clinical assessment of pain, based on a developmental model and addresses common beliefs and myths that affect the management of pain in children. We provide a review of the pain literature that focuses on the integration of mind-body therapies into the management of procedure-related pain, headache, and recurrent abdominal pain in children.

Using a new lipidocolloid dressing in paediatric wounds: results of French and German clinical studies

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy, tolerance and acceptability of a lipidocolloid dressing, Urgotul (Laboratoires Urgo), in the local treatment of acute and chronic paediatric wounds.

METHOD

Two non-comparative multicentre prospective clinical studies were conducted using the same protocol in France and Germany. A total of 100 patients were recruited from 16 centres (11 in France and five in Germany), and followed up for four weeks. Seventy wounds (55 burns and 15 other wounds) from France and 30 from Germany (22 burns and eight other wounds) were evaluated by nursing staff at every dressing change and by the medical investigator on a weekly basis.

RESULTS

In the French study population, 86% of the burns (superficial and deep partial-thickness) and 53% of the other wounds healed completely within the four weeks. Figures for the German study population were 100% and 88% respectively. Pain was evaluated using pain scales adapted to the patient's age (objective pain scale, faces scale for pain and a visual analogue scale) at each dressing change. Dressing removal was non-traumatic, inducing very limited pain. Minor local adverse events were reported in four children.

CONCLUSION

Urgotul is not only efficacious, but also well-tolerated and accepted by children with acute and chronic wounds. The dressing, therefore, might be an appropriate and highly promising alternative to conventional dressings.