Pain assessment in children and young people with developmental disabilities: a scoping review.

Abstract

Paediatric pain has been identified in the literature as being undertreated and often misdiagnosed. This article details a scoping review that aimed to identify the facilitators and barriers to using pain assessment tools for children and young people with developmental disabilities. Two themes were identified as barriers to pain assessment: inexperience of healthcare professionals; and a lack of education for healthcare professionals. Two themes were identified as facilitators of pain assessment: parental assistance and knowledge; and education and training for healthcare professionals. The scoping review identified a significant gap in research into pain assessment for children and young people with developmental disabilities, particularly those receiving care in a hospice setting. The authors also explore how improvements can be made to practice to ensure equitable healthcare delivery for this group.