Global perspectives on pediatric pain management: analysis of attitudes, beliefs and knowledge in healthcare professionals, a multicenter study
Introduction: Pediatric pain remains insufficiently assessed and managedworldwide, despite advances in pain science and clinical guidelines. Healthprofessionals’ attitudes, beliefs, and level of training play a crucial role in thequality of pain management provided to children. Objectives: To analyz...
| Autores: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2026 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha |
| Repositorio: | RUIdeRA. Repositorio Institucional de la UCLM |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:dnet:ruidera_____::3f84217172ba8bee62d98a44dcd32ef4 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2026.1818534 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2026.1818534/full https://hdl.handle.net/10578/48359 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Attitudes Beliefs Health professionals Non-pharmacological interventions Nursing education Pain management Pediatric care Pediatric pain |
| Sumario: | Introduction: Pediatric pain remains insufficiently assessed and managedworldwide, despite advances in pain science and clinical guidelines. Healthprofessionals’ attitudes, beliefs, and level of training play a crucial role in thequality of pain management provided to children. Objectives: To analyze the relationship between attitudes and beliefs towardpediatric pain and the level of knowledge and training among health sciencesstudents and professionals participating in an international educational project. Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional, analytical study was conductedwithin the framework of the HUPEDCARE project. A total of 2,807 participantsfrom Europe, America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania completed the validatedHUPEDCARE-Q questionnaire. The instrument assessed attitudes, beliefs,knowledge and training, and clinical practices related to pediatric pain. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and multiple linear regressionanalyses were performed. Results: Participants showed moderate levels of knowledge regarding pediatricpain management (mean = 3.55 ± 0.73). Misconceptions persisted, particularlyregarding opioid use and the interpretation of physiological indicators of pain.A significant positive correlation was found between attitudes and knowledge(r = 0.060; p = 0.001). Regression analysis showed that recognizing pain as abiopsychosocial experience and valuing non-pharmacological interventionswere significant predictors of higher knowledge levels. Discussion: Despite increased awareness of pediatric pain as a multidimensionalexperience, relevant gaps in education and persistent misconceptions remain. Educational strategies addressing attitudes, beliefs, and clinical competenciesare urgently needed to improve pediatric pain management and promotehumanized care. |
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