Parental experiences of procedural pain in children during hospitalization at a tertiary hospital, Kaski district

Abstract

Background: Pain experiences are very common during childhood as they are frequently exposed to minor medical interventions such as venipuncture, immunization and common accidental injuries in their everyday life. The objectives of the study were to explore the lived-in experiences of parents of procedural pain in children during hospitalization and describe the various dimensions of the lived-in experiences of parents towards painful procedures in children during hospitalization. Methods: This was a qualitative descriptive phenomenological study conducted among 15 dyads receiving treatment in the pediatric unit of Gandaki Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Nepal recruited through purposive sampling technique from 15th June to 14th July 2023. Data was collected using a semi-structured interview guide through one-to-one in-depth interviews. Colaizzi's approach was adopted to analyze the data. Themes and sub-themes were generated and the findings were presented. Results: Parental lived-in experiences included experiences related to their child's pain, means of distraction, the role of the healthcare provider, and effective pain management skills by self. Emotional experiences of the parents and child during the invasive procedure were frequently recorded which reflected their anxiety, fear, and nervousness to the extreme level. Parents also expressed a lack of knowledge regarding the management of pain during the procedure which could have been facilitated by the healthcare professionals. Conclusions: Parents had to deal with anxiety and nervousness arising during invasive procedures carried out as a part of their child's treatment. There is a need for an adequate explanation of the procedure by healthcare professionals to minimize the physical and psychological discomfort experienced by the dyads.