The pain of children with sickle cell disease: the nursing approach

• Main Authors: Lívia Maria Nunes Campelo (Author), Nayara Fernandes Oliveira (Author), Juliana Macêdo Magalhães (Author), Alcineide Mendes de Sousa Julião (Author), Fernanda Cláudia Miranda Amorim (Author), Magda Coeli Vitorino Sales Coelho (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 1984-0446; 10.1590/0034-7167-2016-0648
• Keywords: Anemia de Células Falciformes; Niño; Dolor; Enfermería Pediátrica; Atención de Enfermería; Nursing; RT1-120
• Source: Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, Vol 71, Iss suppl 3, Pp 1381-1387

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe how nurses identify the pain in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) and to list the strategies used by them in the evaluation and control of pain. Method: This is a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory research, performed through semi-structured interviews with 13 nurses. The interviews were transcribed and after this process the qualitative data were organized according to thematic analysis. Results: This study showed that the nurses can identify pain in children with SCD from the signals they emit, such as: constant crying, restlessness, facial expressions and verbal reports. Pain is difficult to evaluate due to the lack of instruments, such as a pain scale. For pain control they use emotional support, promotion of comfort and the administration of drugs prescribed by the doctor. Final considerations: The nurses recognize the pain of the child and use pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods to control it but have difficulties to assess it.