PAIN ASSESSMENT IN PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY PATIENTS

Abstract

Introduction: Pain is the main complaint among children undergoing cancer treatment. Tools that assess pain help in care, diagnosis, and identification of causes, allowing the development of strategies to minimize discomfort and improve quality of life. Objectives: To evaluate the main causes of pain in pediatric patients undergoing cancer treatment. Methods: Descriptive, quantitative-qualitative, and cross-sectional observational study, conducted at the Pediatric Oncology Unit of the Cancer Hospital of Cascavel (UOPECCAN) between January and March 2025, through a questionnaire applied to patients aged 4 to 18 years with preserved cognitive function. Results: A total of 34 questionnaires were analyzed, 21 (61.8%) from females and 13 (38.2%) from males, with a median age of 8 years. Catheter puncture was the main cause of pain (50%). No significant associations were found between pain location and cancer type (p = 0.03), pain intensity and sex (p = 0.613), or treatment stage and pain intensity (p = 0.617). Conclusion: Pain remains a challenge in pediatric oncology care, highlighting the need for humanized pain management and non-pharmacological interventions to reduce suffering and promote better quality of life.