Pain assessment in children and young people with developmental disabilities: a scoping review

Published on June 8, 2026

Nurs Child Young People. 2026 Jun 8. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2026.e1565. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Paediatric pain has been identified in the literature as being undertreated and often misdiagnosed. This article details a scoping review that aimed to identify the facilitators and barriers to using pain assessment tools for children and young people with developmental disabilities. Two themes were identified as barriers to pain assessment: inexperience of healthcare professionals; and a lack of education for healthcare professionals. Two themes were identified as facilitators of pain assessment: parental assistance and knowledge; and education and training for healthcare professionals. The scoping review identified a significant gap in research into pain assessment for children and young people with developmental disabilities, particularly those receiving care in a hospice setting. The authors also explore how improvements can be made to practice to ensure equitable healthcare delivery for this group.

PMID:42252673 | DOI:10.7748/ncyp.2026.e1565

Continue reading on website
Other news

Extending the evidence for Scrambler Therapy to reduce pain in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

June 5, 2026
Int Rev Psychiatry. 2026 Jun 5:1-10. doi: 10.1080/09540261.2026.2682198. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTChemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) significantly burdens cancer patients, often leading to treatment interruptions. Scrambler Therapy (ST)-a noninvasive cutaneous electroanalgesia device-has emerged as a promising alternative for treating CIPN pain. This retrospective chart review

Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Pain and Menstrual Symptoms in Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Placebo-Controlled Study

June 8, 2026
J Midwifery Womens Health. 2026 Jun 7. doi: 10.1111/jmwh.70138. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION: Primary dysmenorrhea, with a prevalence of 45% to 95%, is a common gynecological condition that significantly affects women's daily functioning and quality of life.METHODS: This randomized, single-masked study compared the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on pain