Paediatric procedural pain management: a review of theories and research

Abstract

Invasive procedures are major sources of pain and distress for children. Hence, it is imperative that it is properly managed to prevent short- and long-term effects of unmanaged acute pain. Despite the wealth of evidence on paediatric procedural pain management, it still remains sub-optimal in Nigeria and other developing countries.

This paper is a narrative review which seeks to analyse existing theories and research studies to provide an in-depth understanding about procedural pain and its management. Five databases were searched to identify relevant theories and studies.

While there is no model/theory that entirely explains the biopsychological aspects of procedural pain, existing models have emphasized that the parents/caregivers play a significant role in the effectiveness of procedural pain interventions. Also, there is a wide-range of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions that can be used to improve procedural pain management in Nigeria. A major barrier to the implementation of procedural pain interventions is cost. Hence, nurses and other health professionals should be educated on the use of cheap interventions such as music and toys. There is a need for more research on the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions, such as distraction.

Keywords: Paediatric pain, Procedural pain management, Theories of pain