| Learning Objective #1: Describe the pain experience of children with leukemia during the first year following diagnosis | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Identify management strategies commonly used by children with leukemia to deal with the pain experience during the first year following diagnosis |
Objective: To examine the pain experience during the first year following diagnosis of leukemia, the strategies used to manage pain and their effectiveness.
Design: Descriptive, longitudinal.
Sample/Setting: Participants were 102 children, ages 8-17, English or Spanish speaking, receiving care in 1 of 3 California pediatric oncology centers.
Variables Studied: pain intensity, location, pattern, quality, management strategies, perception of management effectiveness, and functional status.
Methods: Children and parents were interviewed 7 times during the year following diagnosis using age appropriate instruments.
Findings: Pain intensity scores spanned the range of possible responses. For ages 4-7 (scale 0-4) the highest mean score was 2.0 and the lowest 1.6. For ages to 8-17 (scale 0-100) the highest mean score was 50.1 and the lowest 39.5. The most frequent locations of pain were the legs (26.5%), abdomen (16.6%), head/neck (16.6%), and back (14.2%). The words used most frequently to describe pain were "uncomfortable" / "incomodo" and "annoying" / "molesto". The strategy most frequently cited in the interviews for management was stressor modification (e.g. medication, hot/cold, and massage). The most frequently selected coping strategies from a list were: "watch TV", lie down", and "wish for it to go away". Pain intensity scores following management were significantly lower for the younger children in 5 of the 7 interviews (p=. 05 to .01) and in all 7 interviews (p=.01 to .001) for the older children. Functional status was above the median score for all seven interviews.
Conclusions: Children with leukemia experience pain throughout the first year of treatment and can provide a multidimensional description of it. The pain was responsive to the management strategies used by the parents and children. Functional status remained acceptable.
Implications: By understanding the pain experience, effectiveness of management strategies, and subsequent outcomes clinicians can anticipate and plan effective pain management.
Back to Children with Chronic Illness
Back to 14th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
10-12 July 2003