How Can We Improve Pain Control in Children over the World? Results of International Multiprofessional ICPCN Survey

Abstract

Dear Editor: Pain control is the most prominent problem in children's palliative care, especially in developing countries. Many attempts have been made to improve this situation by different organisations including the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2012 (“WHO Guidelines on the Pharmacological Treatment of Persisting Pain in Children with Medical Illnesses.”) While the intent of the WHO guidelines is clear, there are many local country-specified barriers to successful implementation of the recommendations. How can we improve pain control in children all over the world? In order to gain some understanding of different perspectives, the International Children's Palliative Care Network (ICPCN) initiated an International Multiprofessional Survey in 2012. The aim of the survey was to evaluate how ICPCN could help to improve pain control in children around the world. The ICPCN Scientific Committee convened a task force of 25 children's palliative care professionals from 15 countries representing all continents. This task force created a list of eight possible roles the ICPCN could play in improving pain management in children and these roles were described in the survey. Survey participants were …