Is there room for improvement in paediatric pain management?

Pain management is a complex area of patient care, especially when it involves children. This qualitative study undertaken in Dublin and Cork in Ireland set out to identify any barriers to effective pre-hospital paediatric pain management as perceived by a group of advanced paramedics (AP).

The researchers wanted to explore practitioners’ experiences in order to better understand their perspectives. To facilitate this a qualitative approach employing focus groups was adopted. Two focus groups were held, with 12 APs in one group and four in another. No explanation was given as to the differing size of focus groups.

The focus group interview guide is included in the paper which usefully informs readers that the discussion was structured around topics such as participants’ experiences of paediatric pain management; views about current clinical practice guidelines and the role of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches; and opinions as to alternatives to current practice.

The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic network analysis moving through a sequence of developing ‘codes’, identifying ‘basic themes’, constructing ‘organising themes’ and ending up with a ‘global theme’.