Pediatric Chronic Pain and Health-Related Quality of Life

The aim of this study was to investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of children and adolescents with chronic pain. Sixty-nine participants (53 girls and 16 boys, 8–18 years old) were recruited, along with their caregivers, from an outpatient pain management clinic. Participants completed questionnaires regarding the child's pain intensity and HRQOL (physical, emotional, social, and school functioning). Findings indicated that children with chronic pain report significantly lower HRQOL scores compared to population-based normative data and data of children with other chronic illnesses. Lower levels of pain were associated with higher HRQOL scores. In addition to targeting pain management, interventions focused on emotional health are necessary to enhance health outcomes for children with chronic pain.