Faculty Collaboration Database

A Survey of Caregiver Perspectives on Children's Pain Management in the Emergency Department. CJEM 2016 Mar;18(2):98-105

Date

07/25/2015

Pubmed ID

26205823

DOI

10.1017/cem.2015.68

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84968625041 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   19 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: We explored caregiver perspectives on their children's pain management in both a pediatric (PED) and general emergency department (GED). Study objectives were to: (1) measure caregiver estimates of children's pain scores and treatment; (2) determine caregiver level of satisfaction; and (3) determine factors associated with caregiver satisfaction.

METHODS: This prospective survey examined a convenience sample of 97 caregivers (n=51 PED, n=46 GED) with children aged <17 years. A paper-based survey was distributed by research assistants, from 2009-2011.

RESULTS: Most caregivers were female (n=77, 79%) and were the child's mother (n=69, 71%). Children were treated primarily for musculoskeletal pain (n=41, 42%), headache (n=16, 16%) and abdominal pain (n=7, 7%). Using a 100 mm Visual Analog Scale, the maximum mean reported pain score was 75 mm (95% CI: 70-80) and mean score at discharge was 39 mm (95% CI: 32-46). Ninety percent of caregiver respondents were satisfied (80/89, 90%); three (3/50, 6%) were dissatisfied in the PED and six (6/39, 15%) in the GED. Caregivers who rated their child's pain at ED discharge as severe were less likely to be satisfied than those who rated their child's pain as mild or moderate (p=0.034).

CONCLUSIONS: Despite continued pain upon discharge, most caregivers report being satisfied with their child's pain management. Caregiver satisfaction is likely multifactorial, and physicians should be careful not to interpret satisfaction as equivalent to adequate provision of analgesia. The relationship between satisfaction and pain merits further exploration.

Author List

Ali S, Weingarten LE, Kircher J, Dong K, Drendel AL, Rosychuk RJ, Curtis S, Newton AS

Author

Amy L. Drendel DO Interim Chief, Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Abdominal Pain
Adolescent
Adult
Caregivers
Child
Child, Preschool
Cross-Sectional Studies
Emergency Service, Hospital
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pain Management
Pain Measurement
Patient Satisfaction
Prospective Studies
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult