Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine
Better Care for Children in Pain

A new study published in Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied examines the impact of racial bias in the way children’s pain is perceived by clinicians. Unfortunately, this study confirms that racial bias continues to contribute to inequities in managing pain among racialized children.  According to the paper: “This work finds that adult perceivers believed Black children had lived harder lives and thus were less sensitive to pain than White children, with implications for hypothetical pain care recommendations. This research provides insight into how adults’ race stereotypes may impact their perceptions of young children’s pain and which may contribute to differential pain care decisions across child race.”

Follow the link to this study: https://doi.org/10.1037/xap0000491

September is Pain Awareness Month, a time to raise public awareness of issues in the area of pain and pain management for children and adolescents. Our president, Dr. Yuan-Chi Lin, shares a message (below) for Pain Awareness as pain continues to be an issue that impacts the pediatric population.

#painawarenessmonth2023

#PAM2023

ASPMN®’s 33rd National Conference is being held September 20-23, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.

Follow this link for more information:  https://aspmn.org/2023-annual-conference/

A new study in JAMA surgery assesses whether limiting opioids during surgery has any impact on postoperative pain and opioid consumption. The paper concluded that liberal use of opioids intraoperatively, specifically fentanyl, was associated with lower frequency of uncontrolled pain; a decrease in new chronic pain diagnoses reported at 3 months; fewer opioid prescriptions at 30, 90, and 180 days; and decreased new persistent opioid use, without significant increases in adverse effects.

CLICK HERE to check out this fascinating study.