Lived experiences of pain in children and young people with cerebral palsy

Katarina Ostojic, Nicole L. Sharp, Simon P. Paget, Angela M. Morrow

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

im: To explore the lived experiences of pain in children and young people with cerebral palsy (CP). Method: Participants were recruited from the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network and the New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory CP Registers. Inclusion criteria were as follows: CP; aged 9 to 17 years; current/past experience of pain; fluent in English; no greater than mild intellectual disability. Purposive sampling ensured representation across age, motor subtypes, and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted. Data were analysed following an interpretative phenomenological approach. Results: Ten participants (three male) were included (mean age 14y 5mo, SD 2y), GMFCS levels I (n=4), II (n=3), III (n=2), and IV (n=1). Analysis led to three superordinate themes: (1) Everybody’s experience of pain is different; (2) When the pain is winning; (3) ‘I know how to deal with it’. Pain contributors and locations varied between children. Pain intruded on school, physical activity, and psychosocial functioning. Children described personalized strategies used to deal with pain. Interpretation: In this study, children self-reported highly individualized pain experiences which interfered with their daily life and psychosocial well-being. There is a need for improvement in pain assessment and a personalized approach to pain management.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)364-371
Number of pages8
JournalDevelopmental Medicine and Child Neurology
Volume64
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

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