Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/192559

Title

'Getting better from my hurts': toward a model of the young child's pain experience

Author(s)

Woodgate, Roberta;  Kristjanson, Linda J.

Abstract

A qualitative grounded theory method was used to examine hospitalized children's experiences of acute pain. Understanding the children's pain experiences included identifying children's responses, factors influencing children's responses, and the meanings children associated with their pain experiences. A sample of 11 surgical pediatric patients, 2-1/2 to 6-1/2 years of age, participated. Data collection methods included participant observation, informal and formal interviews, play interviews, hospital chart reviews, and use of a reflexive journal. Data analysis was based on the constant comparative method. Findings revealed that the pain experience determined how the overall hospitalization was experienced by the children. "Getting better" was identified as the basic psychosocial process children used to deal with the pain. A beginning model of the young child's pain experience was developed and is presented here.

Publication type

Journal article

Source

Journal of Pediatric Nursing, Vol. 11, no. 4 (Aug 1996), pp. 233-242

Publication year

1996

FOR Code(s)

1110 Nursing

Keyword(s)

Child;  Clinical nursing research;  Pain assessment;  Pain measurement;  Parents;  Pediatric nursing;  Perception;  Postoperative pain;  Preschool child;  Psychological aspect;  Psychological model;  Self concept;  Social environment

Publisher

WB Saunders

ISSN

0882-5963

Publisher URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0882-5963(96)80096-0

Copyright

Copyright © 1996.

Peer reviewed