Abstract

Introduction: Pain is one of the most common symptoms in children. Epidemiologic studies in this area can provide valuable information to track the pain-related problems in children. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of pain and examination and management of pain by the nurses in selected pediatric hospitals of Khuzestan. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, pain-based information during the past 24 hours was achieved from 110 children who were admitted to the pediatric ward and were selected using census method. The data (including demographic information, prevalence, cause and type of the pain, pain assessment, and pain evaluation and management by nurses) were collected through interviews and information from the medical files. Results: According to the findings of the present study, 80.9% of the hospitalized children had suffered from pain during the last 24 hours; 89.9% of the patients were relieved from pain. According to the nurses, in 68.2% of the cases, they were aware of children's pain. In examining patients’ records, 32.7% of the children’s pain was charted by a nurse or physician within 24 hours. The measures that were taken to control the pain were 32.9% medicinal and 67.1% non-medicinal measures. Conclusion: Controversial results in the statistics showed that there was still no integrated approach to examining, evaluating, controlling and treating pain in pediatric hospitals. Contrary to the importance of controlling pain in children, it is not fully managed and supported at the clinics.