Barriers and facilitators of pain management in children: a scoping review.

Abstract

Effective pain management in pediatric care is essential to safeguarding the well-being and recovery of children; however, numerous barriers impede optimal pain relief. Identifying and understanding these barriers, along with facilitators that enhance care, is crucial for advancing clinical practices and patient outcomes. This study presented a comprehensive scoping review of the barriers and facilitators to pediatric pain management, synthesizing findings from research published between 2014 and 2024 to inform evidence-based clinical strategies. A systematic search was conducted using key terms such as "pain management," "children," "barriers," and "facilitators" across PubMed, ProQuest, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, focusing on English-language articles.The review identified several key barriers to effective pediatric pain management, including deficits in provider knowledge and training, organizational and structural limitations, medication and prescription challenges, environmental and situational constraints, communication gaps, technological barriers, parental factors, policy and systemic issues, logistical difficulties, and context-specific limitations. Conversely, facilitators emerged as essential components for improvement, including professional initiatives by healthcare providers, structural and organizational enhancements, family engagement, targeted educational and training interventions, technological innovations, procedural improvements, remote and virtual care adaptations, policy enhancements, and supportive interprofessional relationships.Addressing these multifaceted barriers requires a holistic approach that integrates enhanced education, organizational support, technological development, and active family involvement. Implementing these facilitators has the potential to significantly improve pain management practices, promoting a higher standard of care and quality of life for pediatric patients.