Purpose: This study was an in-depth examination of pediatric postoperative pain care.
Design and methods: Participant observational data were collected on the care of 10 children. Particular attention was paid to actions when pain scores were ≥5 and to the relationship between pain scores and medications administered.
Results: A pattern of care emerged of giving pain medications regularly even if they were prescribed pro re nata. Actions when pain scores were ≥5 varied. Recorded pain scores rarely guided treatment choices.
Practice implications: The use of pain scores to guide treatment choices needs further debate. Future research should explore the implications of divorcing treatment from pain scores on children's pain experience.
Keywords: Pain assessment; pediatric pain; postoperative pain.
© 2013, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.