Trauma-informed pain care during pediatric oncology treatment

Pain is one of the most common and most feared parts of cancer treatment for children. Repeated procedures, from port access to lumbar punctures, can leave lasting distress for patients and their families.

This session brought together clinicians, psychosocial specialists and family advocates to look at what a trauma-informed approach to pain looks like in practice, and where the evidence still has gaps.

Key takeaways

• Preparation and choice reduce distress. Giving children age-appropriate information and a sense of control matters before every procedure.
• Pain care is a team effort that includes child life specialists, nurses, psychologists and parents.
• Families want consistent practices across care settings, not just within one hospital.
• Research priorities include long-term psychosocial outcomes and better measures of procedural distress.

Building the toolbox

Panelists shared practical tools members can adapt, from procedural comfort plans to family communication guides. CAC2’s Family Support and Research & Treatment interest groups will continue the discussion in upcoming member sessions.

Speakers

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