Shouldn't we all be 'ChildKind'?
Updated: Jan 15
ChildKind International is a collective of international pediatric pain experts who have made it their mission to promote good pain management practices for all children. Not only does ChildKind aim to certify children's hospitals throughout the world that demonstrate exemplary effort and attention to the delivery of pain management to children, they also possess a rich resource library that is free to assess for all individuals.
Here is the link: https://childkindinternational.org/search-resources/
One of the more informative resources involves 'Assessment and Management of Pediatric Pain'. https://childkindinternational.org/resources/assessment-and-management-of-pediatric-pain/
Here are some take-aways that you can use immediately to improve your pain management skills.
-> The patient has certain rights regarding their understanding of the plan, etc.
-> Use multi-modal pain relief measures and use them simultaneously when appropriate.
-> Use a multi-step approach to treating pain, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) analgesic ladder.
- select progressively stronger analgesics based on the child's pain level (mild,
moderate, severe)
- patients who require opioid analgesics benefit from continued doses of
acetaminophen or NSAIDs, as appropriate.
-> Analgesics should be administered on a regular schedule based on drug duration and severity of pain.
-> Consider as-needed dosing if pain episodes are intermittent and unpredictable.
-> Reassess frequently; showing you are concerned is an invaluable part of pain management
-> Document pain scores, patient satisfaction with pain, how patient is functioning (and more)
I believe patients also have the responsibility to work on their healing and return to functioning but they can only do so when supported by an empathic provider that delivers safe, quality care.
Check out the resources presented to you by ChildKind and let us know how these have changed your practice.
