MY HURTS - HOSPITALIZED YOUNG CHILDRENS PERCEPTIONS OF ACUTE PAIN

A qualitative method was used to study hospitalized young children's p erceptions of their pain experiences. Participating were II children ( ages 2 1/2 to 6 1/2 years) who had received surgical intervention. Par ticipant observation and interviews were used to study the children's pain experiences. Each child also participated in a formal interview t hat combined play or drawing with a semistructured interview format. D ata analysis occurred concurrently with data collection, consistent wi th the grounded theory technique. findings revealed that the children experienced many different types of pain, which they defined as ''my h urts.'' Their hurts were all perceived as ''bad.'' Preferred care prac tices were also identified. Information from this investigation will h elp sensitize professionals to how to better care for young children i n pain.