Parents' Initial Perceptions of Multidisciplinary Care for Pediatric Chronic Pain

Ayala Y. Gorodzinsky,Katie M. Fleischman,Steven J. Weisman,Susan T. Tran,Gustavo R. Medrano,Kimberly J. Anderson-Khan,Renee J. Ladwig

doi:10.1155/2012/791061

Abstract

Chronic and recurrent pain is experienced by many children and adolescents. Treatment of chronic pain using a multidisciplinary approach has been found to be effective for treatment of chronic pain. Parent satisfaction with treatment and treatment providers highly correlates to children's treatment adherence. Parents of children treated at a multidisciplinary chronic pain clinic were interviewed following their initial appointment. Parents reported high satisfaction with treatment team members and with the treatment plan. Parents also reported appreciation of multidisciplinary structure, the high level of expertise of the team members, and the team members' genuine interest in treating their children. This increase in satisfaction when compared to previous treatment is important since increases in satisfaction may correlate with a reduction in experiences of chronic pain. Parents reported high satisfaction with interactions with treatment team members and with the treatment plan provided for their children. Parents had appreciation of multidisciplinary team structure and the high level of expertise of the team members. This increase in satisfaction when compared to treatment from previous providers is important since increases in satisfaction may correlate with an increase in children's treatment adherence and a reduction in experiences of chronic pain.

Highlights

Chronic, persistent, and episodic pain has a prevalence rate of 25 to 33% in childhood and adolescence [1]
The nine domains regarding information about the parent’s perceptions of care at the multidisciplinary clinic are described below (Patient’s Prior Treatment for Chronic Pain, Parent-Past Provider Relationship, Parent Attitudes toward the Experience and Treatment of Pain, Parent Preconceptions of Appointment, Parent Attitudes toward Multidisciplinary Team, Child Attitudes toward Multidisciplinary Team, Parent-Clinic Provider, Patient’s Noncompliance and Treatment Plan); the other five domains included background information about the child and his or her pain and are not included for analysis in this paper (Pain History, Child’s Social Experiences, School Experiences, Parent-Child Relationship, and Clinic Logistics) as these domains did not address the specific interest of how families perceive their treatment at the multidisciplinary clinic
The results demonstrated a variety of impressions that parents had regarding their intake appointment at a pediatric multidisciplinary pain clinic

Summary

Introduction

Persistent, and episodic pain has a prevalence rate of 25 to 33% in childhood and adolescence [1]. Children with chronic pain experience significant interference with various developmental functioning, such as attending school [3] and increased levels of emotional distress and impairment [4]. In an effort to find treatment for chronic pain, patients must often negotiate appointments with multiple providers, including both primary (e.g., pediatrician) and secondary (e.g., neurologist) providers [5]. Consequences of searching for treatment often includes missed school for child, missed work for parents, and use of emotional and financial resources [6]. Families often report limited belief by health care providers regarding the high levels of pain their child is experiencing, which can interfere with the trust and relationship the families create with the providers. Due to the failure of treatments to reduce their children’s pain, parents may experience reduced expectations for treatment [8]

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