The Experience of Pain for School-Age Children: Blood, Band-Aids, and Feelings

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Abstract
A qualitative descriptive study was conducted to examine words and their meaning when used by children describing their experiences with pain Eight children (6-8 years) participated A semistructured interview was conducted in which each child was asked to draw a picture of pain or hurt, what it looked like, or experiences they had had that were painful or hurtful Data were coded by concepts, sorted into categories, and examined with four overall themes emerging Each of the children related experiences through their drawings and conversation that were encompassed in the identified themes Young school-age children could clearly communicate their pain and the methods that helped alleviate it This information can be used by health professionals to improve clinical assessment of pain in children.