Assessment of Children's Pain in Oncology Unit

Abstract

Most children with cancer will be at risk for significant pain at some time duringthe course of their illness. Pain may be a product of the disease itself or the result ofmedical intervention in the form of diagnostic procedures, surgery, and chemotherapy,or radiation therapy. An adequate standard of care requires that the cliniciansystematically assess and effectively manage pain on a routine basis for all childrenwith cancer.Aim of the study was to :- a) Assess pain with invasive monitoring procedures (pre& post procedure): - vein puncture, lumber puncture & bone marrow aspiration &biopsy. - b) Assess Current symptoms pre receiving of chemotherapy, - c) AssessIntensity pain with like methods of chemotherapy, d) Assess Family & child's painexperience within the period of treatmentA total of 50 patients age between (6 – 12 years) in oncology unit in central childteaching hospital & children teaching hospital in medical city, from 25th of January to25th of April 2009. Using questionnaires which has 3 parts, part one – demographiccharacteristics Part two – assessment pain with monitoring procedures, currentsymptoms pre receiving of chemotherapy, intensity of pain with methods receiving ofchemotherapy. Part three – family & Childs experience pain with use facialexpression with poker chips colorResults were analyzed by descriptive statistical including (frequency, percentage,mean of score). Results showed that (50%) of patients were age 6-8 years &diagnosed leukemia, 60% males & number of chemotherapy less than 6th courses,(72%) duration of diseases less than 6th months, 56% number admissions to hospitalwith out chemotherapy were 3-7 time. Vein Puncture (60%) of sample feeling no painpre procedure, (80%) feeling some pain bother post procedure Lumber Puncture(50%) of sample feeling pain that does not bother pre procedure, (80%) feeling severpain post procedure Bone Marrow Aspiration (60%) of sample feeling some painbother pre procedure, (100%) feeling unbearable pain post procedure. (40%) fear Prereceiving chemotherapy. (60%) methods receiving of chemotherapy bothintravenously & intrathecaly, intravenously methods pain is most hurt whileintrathecaly methods pain is the most hurt could ever have. Family experience towardassess pain tool, them showed these easily. Child experience with pain (60%) useword discomfort or no communication when feel painIn conclusions the study revealed the pain more than in post monitoringprocedure specific in lumber puncture & high level in bone marrow aspiration, fear isthe most symptoms syndrome for patients pre receiving of chemotherapy,intravenously methods most methods pain for patient. Most families the tool painMDJ Assessment of Children's Pain in Oncology Unit Vol.:8 No.:3 2011270showed easily & easily transport & more children use words to expression pain & nocommunication