Moments that matter: childhood pain treatment shapes pain for life—we can do better every time in every child
Abstract Background Needle procedures, such as vaccinations, blood draws, and intravenous cannulation, are the most frequent source of childhood pain, causing fear and reducing the uptake of medical procedures. Every child has the right to expect pain relief, and we have evidence-based tools to redu...
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BMC
2025-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-03869-7 |
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| author | Rebeccah Slater Suellen Walker Christopher Eccleston Carlo Bellieni Tanvi Hirekodi Ricardo Carbajal Lucinda Smart William Laughey Maria M. Cobo Stefan Friedrichsdorf |
| author_facet | Rebeccah Slater Suellen Walker Christopher Eccleston Carlo Bellieni Tanvi Hirekodi Ricardo Carbajal Lucinda Smart William Laughey Maria M. Cobo Stefan Friedrichsdorf |
| author_sort | Rebeccah Slater |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Needle procedures, such as vaccinations, blood draws, and intravenous cannulation, are the most frequent source of childhood pain, causing fear and reducing the uptake of medical procedures. Every child has the right to expect pain relief, and we have evidence-based tools to reduce needle procedure-related pain. Therefore, the lack of analgesic provision for needle pain is not justified. We argue that better informed and motivated healthcare professionals and families can advocate for appropriate pain relief in every child, every time. Observations Engaging communication campaigns are needed to educate our healthcare professionals. Evidence-based modalities such as topical anaesthesia, sucrose or breastfeeding, comfort positioning, and age-appropriate distractions should be available for every child during needle procedures. However, high-quality information is not enough to change behaviour—healthcare professionals need to be motivated, encouraged, and inspired. Parents and carers should be empowered to advocate for their children and be aware that their child has the right to receive pain relief during these procedures. Conclusions and relevance This is a call to action—we need collaboration between academics, healthcare professionals, industry and charities, to expedite behavioural change and parental advocacy through high-quality communication strategies. Effective pain management in infants and children can play a crucial role in promoting the uptake of vaccinations and medical procedures and can influence future attitudes to pain. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8f128cdc49984d55b423956683fe9a7d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1741-7015 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-8f128cdc49984d55b423956683fe9a7d2025-02-09T12:40:55ZengBMCBMC Medicine1741-70152025-02-012311810.1186/s12916-025-03869-7Moments that matter: childhood pain treatment shapes pain for life—we can do better every time in every childRebeccah Slater0Suellen Walker1Christopher Eccleston2Carlo Bellieni3Tanvi Hirekodi4Ricardo Carbajal5Lucinda Smart6William Laughey7Maria M. Cobo8Stefan Friedrichsdorf9Department of Paediatrics, University of OxfordDevelopmental Neurosciences Department, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, UCLCentre for Pain Research, The University of BathDepartment of Pediatrics, University of SienaSchool of Medicine, Newcastle UniversityPediatric Emergency Department, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Armand Trousseau- Sorbonne UniversitéReckitt Health Care UK LtdReckitt Health Care UK LtdDepartment of Paediatrics, University of OxfordDivision of Pediatric Pain, Palliative Care & Integrative Medicine, University of California San FranciscoAbstract Background Needle procedures, such as vaccinations, blood draws, and intravenous cannulation, are the most frequent source of childhood pain, causing fear and reducing the uptake of medical procedures. Every child has the right to expect pain relief, and we have evidence-based tools to reduce needle procedure-related pain. Therefore, the lack of analgesic provision for needle pain is not justified. We argue that better informed and motivated healthcare professionals and families can advocate for appropriate pain relief in every child, every time. Observations Engaging communication campaigns are needed to educate our healthcare professionals. Evidence-based modalities such as topical anaesthesia, sucrose or breastfeeding, comfort positioning, and age-appropriate distractions should be available for every child during needle procedures. However, high-quality information is not enough to change behaviour—healthcare professionals need to be motivated, encouraged, and inspired. Parents and carers should be empowered to advocate for their children and be aware that their child has the right to receive pain relief during these procedures. Conclusions and relevance This is a call to action—we need collaboration between academics, healthcare professionals, industry and charities, to expedite behavioural change and parental advocacy through high-quality communication strategies. Effective pain management in infants and children can play a crucial role in promoting the uptake of vaccinations and medical procedures and can influence future attitudes to pain.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-03869-7ChildrenInfantPainNeedle proceduresPain treatmentInformation |
| spellingShingle | Rebeccah Slater Suellen Walker Christopher Eccleston Carlo Bellieni Tanvi Hirekodi Ricardo Carbajal Lucinda Smart William Laughey Maria M. Cobo Stefan Friedrichsdorf Moments that matter: childhood pain treatment shapes pain for life—we can do better every time in every child BMC Medicine Children Infant Pain Needle procedures Pain treatment Information |
| title | Moments that matter: childhood pain treatment shapes pain for life—we can do better every time in every child |
| title_full | Moments that matter: childhood pain treatment shapes pain for life—we can do better every time in every child |
| title_fullStr | Moments that matter: childhood pain treatment shapes pain for life—we can do better every time in every child |
| title_full_unstemmed | Moments that matter: childhood pain treatment shapes pain for life—we can do better every time in every child |
| title_short | Moments that matter: childhood pain treatment shapes pain for life—we can do better every time in every child |
| title_sort | moments that matter childhood pain treatment shapes pain for life we can do better every time in every child |
| topic | Children Infant Pain Needle procedures Pain treatment Information |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-03869-7 |
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