The Effectiveness of a Standardized Educational Program for Children Using Patient‐Controlled Analgesia

Abstract

purpose. To examine the effectiveness of two types of preoperative education (routine education and a standardized educational program) for children undergoing spinal fusion. design. Two group, phase‐lag design. setting. Tertiary pediatric hospital. participants. Children ages 8‐18 years (N = 93) main outcome measures. Adolescent Pediatric Pain Tool, Child Pain Scale, Post‐PCA Satisfaction Interview, and PCA infusion pump data. results. No statistically significant differences between the groups on any of the main outcome variables. Children and parents reported, however, that the SEP provided them with invaluable information regarding the use of PCA and alleviated their concerns about getting “hooked on drugs,” overdosing, side effects, and being able to get pain relief when needed. conclusion. Children having spine fusion surgery experienced severe postoperative pain that was not ameliorated by optimizing use of PCA through standardized education. Further testing of the SEP with other populations is needed in order to more fully realize its potential for influencing pain outcomes.

Children's pre-operative tonsillectomy pain education: Clinical outcomes

“…The lack of influence of pain education on the postoperative pain intensity was similar to other parent and child pre-operative pain and general preparation studies [9,10,35]. Teaching strategies and children's therapeutic analgesic management may account for this lack of influence [10].…”

“…Teaching strategies and children's therapeutic analgesic management may account for this lack of influence [10]. The use of video coping modeling with children demonstrating an active role in their analgesic management along with non-pharmacologic pain management strategies may have been a more effective preparation strategy.…”

“…Only one study [10] was identified that specifically addressed children's pre-operative pain education. This study's findings [10] reported that pain education developed by clinicians did not influence children's post-operative pain intensity, location, quality of pain, pain behaviors or satisfaction with patient control analgesia.…”

“…Only one study [10] was identified that specifically addressed children's pre-operative pain education. This study's findings [10] reported that pain education developed by clinicians did not influence children's post-operative pain intensity, location, quality of pain, pain behaviors or satisfaction with patient control analgesia. However, clinical outcomes (i.e., anxiety, sleep problems, expectation for pain, and quality of pain) associated with children who are highly anxious [1] or experiencing post-operative pain [12][13][14] were either not measured or reported.…”

“…Children's pre-procedure pain education studies [7][8][9][10][11] have focused on written/or video information developed by clinicians and provided primarily to parents. Only one study [10] was identified that specifically addressed children's pre-operative pain education.…”