Intensity, location, and quality of pain in Spanish-speaking children with cancer.

Spanish speaking children with cancer were asked to describe their pain during the previous week prior to an oncology clinic appointment. Data showed that 41% of the children were experiencing pain and the overall mean pain intensity rating among these children was 5.7 +/- 2.7. Among those children with moderate to severe pain, the most frequently marked locations on the body outline diagram was the abdomen (53.8%), lower back (46.2%), and upper chest (30.8%). The higher percentage of children complaining of abdominal pain may be attributed to the high percentage (63.6%) of children reporting oral chemotherapy at home. Some children experienced pain that was unrecognized and undetected, and therefore were not receiving medications. To minimize the risk of under-treatment of pain, children and parents may be taught to use the Spanish version of the Adolescent Pediatric Pain Tool to communicate the child's pain to clinicians.

Duke Scholars

Author Marilyn J Hockenberry School of Nursing