Abstract
This paper intends to encourage further reflection on the research methods and approaches used to enhance the voices of children with chronic conditions. Visual methods (e.g., ‘draw, write, and tell’ and photo elicitation interviews) have been described as the most appropriate ways to develop research with children as they allow room for children to share their lived experiences in their own terms and to actively participate in the research process, by giving them the opportunity to act as co-researchers. In fact, the use of these methods also contributes to empowering children and mitigating the power differences that exist between the adult researcher and young participants. Drawing on an ongoing study on the experience and management of chronic pain in childhood, this paper provides insights on the usefulness of using these multi-methods to address (potentially) sensitive topics with a (potentially) vulnerable group. The ethical and methodological challenges faced by the researcher when conducting research with ill children in the healthcare context are addressed. The paper looks at the dilemmas of studying chronic pain in childhood and highlights the ways in which multi visual methods can help children in the meaning making of chronic pain.
Highlights
There is a lack of knowledge about the daily living experiences of children with chronic pain, and what is known focuses either on children and families’ encounters with medical professionals [1] or on the impact that caring for a child with chronic pain has on family relationships [2]
Pain is difficult to communicate through language [8], we believe the use of multi-visual methods can enhance our ability to understand the experience of chronic pain in children by enhancing their agency and right to participate in research on matters concerning their health and well-being [9]
The following sections intend to show how the use of multi-visual methods (i.e., ‘the draw, write, and tell’ technique and photo-elicitation interviews) would enhance children’s agency by offering them more autonomy and control over the research process [9], as well as to demonstrate how these methods might be helpful to overcome the difficulties that might arise from studying a chronic condition like chronic pain
Summary
There is a lack of knowledge about the daily living experiences of children with chronic pain, and what is known focuses either on children and families’ encounters with medical professionals [1] or on the impact that caring for a child (i.e., someone who is under 18) with chronic pain has on family relationships [2]. There is a need to understand how children and their families live with and manage chronic pain. Because of its inherent nature, chronic pain is a sensitive topic which can evoke powerful emotions and be emotionally demanding for the researcher and research participants [10,11]. This is amplified when vulnerable subjects such as children with chronic conditions are involved. Children with chronic pain might be considered a doubly vulnerable population as do they lack the ability to make some personal life choices and personal decisions due to their age
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