Neglect of Postoperative Pain Management in Children: A Qualitative Study Based on the Experiences of Parents

Purpose: Identifying parents' experiences of barriers to optimal postoperative pain management in children. Design and Methods: This qualitative-content analysis study was conducted with 16 parents whose school-age children had undergone emergency abdominal surgery in university hospitals of Ahvaz, southern Iran. A purposive sampling method was used to select the participants. The semi-structured interviews with all of the participants were recorded, transcribed, and analysed. Results: After data analysis, neglect emerged as the main theme. This neglect consisted of three categories including the healthcare system's disregard, insufficient sensitivity of the healthcare providers, and hesitance or delays of parents and children in asking for care. Conclusion: The optimal management of children's postoperative pain requires the provision of relevant infrastructures by the healthcare system, responsible performance of the health professionals beyond the routine, and active and informed participation of both parents and children. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.