CME Information

CME Needs Assessment

Pain is one of the most common reasons for patients to seek medical attention and one of the most prevalent medical complaints in the US.^1,2 Pain is influenced by individual experiences, comorbidities, cultural beliefs, cognitive abilities, expectations, emotions, and memory, making the approach to pain management unique to each patient. This may be particularly true in special populations, such as children.

The pediatric population is at risk of inadequate pain management, with age-related factors affecting pain management in children. Children are often given minimal or no analgesia for procedures that would routinely be treated aggressively in adults.^3,4 A recent review of the state of pain management for children found that although much is now known about the safe and effective management of pain in children, this knowledge has not been widely or effectively translated into routine clinical practice.⁵

Consequently, physicians and other healthcare professionals need current, state-of-the-art education to assist them in developing the skills required to evaluate and manage pain in children. This CME program reviews important considerations in pain management in children. Strategies for assessing pain, specific pain assessment tools, and pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic management options specific to children are also addressed.

1. Parrott T. Pain Management in Primary-Care Medical Practice. In: Tollison CD, Satterthwaithe JR, Tollison JW, eds. Practical Pain Management. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2002:729-759.

2. Bartel J, Beasley J, Berry PH, et al. Approaches to Pain Management. Oakbrook Terrace, IL: Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; 2003. Learn more.

3. Schechter NL. The undertreatment of pain in children: an overview. Pediatr Clin North Am. 1989;36:781-794. Learn more.

4. Anand KJ, Hickey PR. Pain and its effects in the human neonate and fetus. N Engl J Med. 1987;317:1321-1329. Learn more.

5. Howard RF. Current status of pain management in children. JAMA. 2003:2464-2469.