Navigating Uncertainty: Health Professionals' Knowledge, Skill and Confidence in Assessing and Managing Pain in Children with Profound Cognitive Impairment

Carter, Bernie; Simons, Joan; Bray, Lucy and Arnott, Janine (2016). Navigating Uncertainty: Health Professionals' Knowledge, Skill and Confidence in Assessing and Managing Pain in Children with Profound Cognitive Impairment. Pain Research and Management, 2016, article no. 8617182.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/8617182

Abstract

There is limited evidence to underpin the assessment and management of pain in children with profound cognitive impairment and these children are vulnerable to poor pain assessment and management. Health professionals working with children with profound cognitive impairment from a single paediatric tertiary referral centre in England were interviewed to explore how they develop and acquire knowledge and skills to assess and manage pain in children with cognitive impairment. The interviews were transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis. Nineteen health professionals representing different professional groups and different levels of experience participated in the study. A metatheme “navigating uncertainty; deficits in knowledge and skills” and two core themes “framing as different and teasing things out” and “the settling and unsettling presence of parents” were identified. Uncertainty about aspects of assessing and managing the pain of children with cognitive impairment tended to erode professional confidence and many discussed deficits in their skill and knowledge set. Uncertainty was managed through engaging with other health professionals and the child’s parents. Most health professionals stated they would welcome more education and training although many felt that this input should be clinical and not classroom oriented.

Viewing alternatives

Metrics

Item Actions

Export

You can export this page using these formats Digital Object Identifier - DOI

About

• Item ORO ID
• 48508
• Item Type
• Journal Item
• ISSN
• 1918-1523
• Project Funding Details

• Funded Project Name	Project ID	Funding Body
  How do parents and healthcare practitioners develop and acquire knowledge and skills to assess and manage pain in children who have complex needs?	144369	WellChild

• Academic Unit or School
• Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) > Health, Wellbeing and Social Care > Health and Social Care
  Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) > Health, Wellbeing and Social Care
  Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS)
• Research Group
• Health and Wellbeing PRA (Priority Research Area)
  Centre for Children’s Wellbeing
• Copyright Holders
• © 2016 The Authors
• Depositing User
• Joan Simons