Insights in the use of health care services in chronic benign pain in childhood and adolescence

The utilization of health care services in children and adolescents with ch ronic benign pain was studied in a Dutch population sample of 254 chronic p ain sufferers aged 0-18 years. Children and adolescents who had reported ch ronic pain (continuous or recurrent pain >3 months) in our previous prevale nce study were asked to keep a 3-week diary on their pain and to fill out q uestionnaires on background factors, health care use and the impact of pain . Parent ratings were used for children aged 0-11 years, self-report was us ed in adolescents (12-18 years). In a 3-month period, in 53.4% of the cases medication was used for pain, and general practitioners and specialists we re consulted for pain in 31.1% and 13.9% of subjects, respectively. Physiot herapists, psychologists and alternative health providers were visited by 1 1.5, 2.8, and 4.0%, respectively. In the preceding year, 6.4% had been hosp italized due to pain. The most important factors linked to utilizing medica l services were gender, various pain characteristics, school absenteeism an d disability. Although consulters reported to be less physically fit and le ss satisfied with health, their parents were better adapted to the pain, by talking and sharing, mutual support, normalization of the child and height ened self-esteem, than non-consulters. Prospective studies are needed to te st causality of coping on care-seeking behavior. (C) 2001 International Ass ociation for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. Ail righ ts reserved.