Parent-reported pain in non-verbal children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.
OBJECTIVE
This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence, frequency, and intensity of parent-reported pain among non-verbal children with cerebral palsy (CP) and explore associations with medical, demographic, and parental psychosocial factors.


METHODS
Participants were parents of non-verbal outpatients (aged 2-20y) with CP at University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur and two community centres. Parents answered the Caregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities Questionnaire and a pro forma regarding parent-reported frequency and intensity of pain during the preceding 4 weeks. Parental psychosocial well-being was assessed via the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support.


RESULTS
The response rate was 94%; 104 children (54 males, 50 females) were studied. The majority (51%) were in Gross Motor Function Classification System level V and 65% had spastic quadriplegia. Parents reported pain in 65%, intense pain in 17%, and daily pain in 28%. Intense and frequent pain was reported during physiotherapy. More intense pain was reported in older children (p=0.016) and those with spastic quadriplegia (p=0.020).


CONCLUSIONS
Caregivers of non-verbal children with CP report a high frequency of pain. Pain intensity is associated with patient factors but not parental psychosocial factors.
Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Jalan Universiti, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Subhashini
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5164-8056
S
Jayanath
Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Jalan Universiti, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Lai Choo
LC
Ong
Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Jalan Universiti, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Mary Joseph
MJ
Marret
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Jalan Universiti, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Aishah Ahmad
AA
Fauzi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009155:Mutism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010290:Parents; D015995:Prevalence; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult