Variability of analgesic practices for hospitalized children on different pediatric specialty units

Title

Variability of analgesic practices for hospitalized children on different pediatric specialty units

Creator

Jacob E; Puntillo KA

Publisher

Journal Of Pain And Symptom Management

Date

2000

Subject

Child; Female; Humans; Male; Pediatrics; Preschool; Non-U.S. Gov't; P.H.S.; Research Support; U.S. Gov't; Pain/drug therapy; Analgesics/administration & dosage/therapeutic use; Hospital Units

Description

This study examined the differences in the prescription and administration of analgesics in eight pediatric specialty units. Medical records of patients (n = 153) who were reported by nurses to be having pain were reviewed. Results showed that there were variations in the type of analgesics prescribed and administered in the different units. Mean doses of opioids were slightly subtherapeutic. The mean doses of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and adjuvants were all within the therapeutic range. There were large intervals between doses of medications. Because few patients had pain scores recorded before and after analgesic administration, evidence of relief was inconclusive, and the actual effectiveness of analgesics could not be consistently evaluated. Undertreatment of pain may result from administration of subtherapeutic analgesic doses, long intervals between administrations of doses, lack of proper documentation to guide practice, or a combination of these reasons.
2000

Rights

Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).

Type

Journal Article

Citation List Month

Backlog

Citation

Jacob E; Puntillo KA, “Variability of analgesic practices for hospitalized children on different pediatric specialty units,” Pediatric Palliative Care Library, accessed March 28, 2024, https://pedpalascnetlibrary.omeka.net/items/show/12209.