title: Chronic pain management as a barrier to pediatric palliative care.
abstract: Pain is common as a presenting complaint to outpatient and emergency departments for children, yet pain management represents one of the children's largest unmet needs. A child may present with acute pain for an intermittent issue or may have acute or chronic pain in the setting of chronic illness. The mainstay of treatment for pain uses a stepwise approach for pain management, such as set up by the World Health Organization. For children with life-limiting illnesses, the Institute of Medicine guidelines recommends referral upon diagnosis for palliative care, meaning that the child receives comprehensive services that include pain control in coordination with curative therapies; yet barriers remain. From the provider perspective, pain can be better addressed through a careful assessment of one's own knowledge, skills, and attitudes. The key components of pain management in children are multimodal, regardless of the cause of the pain.
authors: 1Departments of Pediatrics and Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors: Lindsay A
authors: LA
authors: Thompson
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Meinert
authors: Kimberly
authors: K
authors: Baker
authors: Caprice
authors: C
authors: Knapp
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D059350:Chronic Pain; D006801:Humans; D059408:Pain Management; D010166:Palliative Care; D010372:Pediatrics; D012017:Referral and Consultation
keywords: pain management; palliative care; pediatrics