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Cited by 236Pediatric Pain Management TechniquesCOVID-19 and Mental HealthMusculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation

Children with unexplained chronic pain: substantial impairment in everyday life

Open access
Konijnenberg, A Y·2005·Archives of Disease in Childhood
DOI 10.1136/adc.2004.056820PMC PMC1720481
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Abstract

Objectives To address structural determinants and healthcare workers’ (HCWs) physical, mental, emotional and professional challenges of working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design Exploratory qualitative study with semistructured interviews. Collected data were analysed using thematic analysis. Setting This qualitative study was undertaken with HCWs who mainly worked in intensive care units in six non-profit hospitals in Vienna, Austria. Data were collected from June 2020 to January 2021. Participants A total of 30 HCWs (13 medical doctors, 11 qualified nursing staff, 2 nurse assistants, 2 physiotherapists and 2 technical/cleaning staff) who were in direct and indirect contact with patients with COVID-19 were included. Results Three overall themes resulted as relevant: challenges due to lack of preparedness, structural conditions, and physical and mental health of HCWs. Lack of preparedness included delayed infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines, shortages of personal protective equipment combined with staff shortages (especially of nursing staff) and overworked personnel. Physical and mental strains resulted from HCWs being overworked and working permanently on alert to face medical uncertainties and the critical conditions of patients. HCWs lacked recognition on multiple levels and dealt with stigma and avoidance behaviour of colleagues. Conclusion To mitigate HCWs’ occupational health risks and staff turnover, we propose context-specific recommendations. The number of available essential workers in care of patients with COVID-19, especially nursing staff, should be carefully planned and increased to avert chronic work overload. Timely training and education in IPC for all HCWs is important. Providing supportive supervision is as essential as appropriate recognition by higher level management and the public.

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  • One study concluded that chronic pain interferes more extensively with peer relationships compared with other types of chronic conditions.

    “One study compared children with chronic pain with previously published research on children with other types of chronic illness, and concluded that chronic pain interferes more extensively with peer relationships compared with other types of chronic conditions (10).”

    From Ecological system influences in the treatment of pediatric chronic pain (2012) · cites this paper as [10]

    The Discussion (page unavailable) compares previously published school samples and reports considerably worse role/social functioning in referred children with unexplained chronic pain than in subgroups with chronic somatic diseases. The Results (page unavailable) report reduced contact with friends in the pain group, but the comparison does not specifically establish that peer relationships were more affected than in children with other chronic conditions. (LLM, conf=0.83)

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References 39 · Cited by 236

Research works printed but not linked: 32

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Authors
Konijnenberg, A. Y.
Affiliations
University Medical Center Utrecht (NL)
Corresponding author
Konijnenberg, A Y
Venue
Archives of Disease in Childhood
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2005-07-01
Volume
90
Issue
7
Pages
680-686
ISSN
  • 0003-9888 (ISSN-L)
  • 1468-2044
DOI
10.1136/adc.2004.056820
PMC
PMC1720481
OpenAlex
W2114014993
Cited by
236
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 16
FWCI
7.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Archives of Disease in Childhood (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Pediatric Pain Management Techniques
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
Keywords
children, healthcare workers, COVID-19 pandemic, intensive care unit, occupational health, infection control, personal protective equipment shortage, staff shortage, work overload, mental health, stigma, supportive supervision
MeSH terms
Activities of Daily Living, Adolescent, Child, Chronic Disease, Female, Health Status Indicators, Humans, Male, Pain, Pain Measurement, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Somatoform Disorders, Logistic Models

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