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The Critical Role of Parents in Pediatric Cancer-Related Pain Management: a Review and Call to Action

  • Palliative Medicine (A Jatoi, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Oncology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Even with optimized medical management, pain remains an inevitable part of pediatric cancer care. The most effective interventions for nonpharmacologic pain management within pediatric psychology include parent skills training. This review specifically explored the role of parents in cancer-related pain management with the goal of defining a set of evidence-based skills that could translate to improved pediatric cancer pain management.

Recent Findings

Pain is now widely understood to be both a sensory and emotional experience. As a result, within pediatric non-cancer pain management there is increasing application of the biopsychosocial model for pain management, inclusive of evidence-based psychological intervention. This review, specifically focusing on the role of parent training in cancer-related pain management, finds few interventions that systematically included parents. There is a need for continued evidence-based innovation and knowledge dissemination in this area of care.

Summary

This paper highlights a critical gap in translational science within pediatric cancer pain management, namely, that parents who have a child with cancer are not reliably gaining access to well-established, evidence-based psychological skills training that can help to mitigate pain and pain-related stress. Based on the literature, the authors provide recommendations for generating adaptable, evidence-informed interventions that support and empower parents to help their child with pain management through all phases of cancer treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Kristen Uhl

  2. Boston Children’s Hospital, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Maureen Burns, Amy Hale & Rachael Coakley

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  1. Kristen Uhl
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Correspondence to Rachael Coakley.

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Uhl, K., Burns, M., Hale, A. et al. The Critical Role of Parents in Pediatric Cancer-Related Pain Management: a Review and Call to Action. Curr Oncol Rep 22, 37 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-020-0899-7

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