Factors affecting the experience of procedural and postoperative pain in children and adolescents - a systematic review.
Rikard Roxner, Henrik Berlin, Helena Domeij et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review examined factors influencing procedural and postoperative pain in children and adolescents aged 3-18 years. The review included 18 studies, revealing low certainty evidence that female adolescents report higher pain levels than males. The findings suggest that pain experiences are multifactorial, necessitating individualized care.
Key findings
- There is low certainty evidence that female adolescents (12-18 years) report higher procedural or postoperative pain than males.
- The review included 18 articles, with eight studies showing low or moderate risk of bias.
- Very low certainty evidence was found regarding the influence of age and dental anxiety on pain experiences.
Why it matters
Understanding the factors that affect pain experiences in children and adolescents is crucial for developing effective pain management strategies. Individualized care approaches may improve outcomes and patient comfort during medical and dental procedures.
What to keep in mind
Three of the eight included studies lacked complete information on ethical review and informed consent procedures.