2023 to 2024: The Open University – Professor Joan Simons

Improving nursing care delivery of pain management to children through engagement with nurses, parents and children

Many children between 1 and 18 years of age are admitted to acute hospitals in the UK annually, with a significant proportion experiencing moderate to severe pain. Undertreated, unrecognised, or poorly managed pain in childhood can lead to significant and long-lasting negative consequences that continue into adulthood.

Practice-based scenarios were used to interview 11 nurses, 8 parents and 4 children / young people. A key achievement of the study was the identification of misunderstandings between parents and nurses which can result in pain escalation for the child, and increased parent anxiety. Outcomes of the study were used to develop a three-minute animation for nurses, seminars of presented to British Pain Society Pain Networks and a free online course for nurses.