Using an animation to enhance parents and professionals’ communication and assessment of pain in children with profound cognitive impairment

Abstract

Purpose: The rationale behind developing this resource was to create an animation and supporting information that would promote greater understanding and insight into the challenges associated with assessing pain in children with profound cognitive impairment, and to improve pain communication between parents and professionals. Although some specific validated assessment tools exist, health care professionals typically report a lack of confidence in undertaking pain assessment in this heterogeneous group of children.