Parent–Child Reminiscing about Past Pain as a Preparatory Technique in the Context of Children’s Pain: A Narrative Review and Call for Future Research

Abstract

Pain permeates childhood and remains inadequately and/or inconsistently managed. Existing research and clinical practice guidelines have largely focused on factors influencing the immediate experience of pain. The need for and benefits of preparing children for future pain (e.g., painful procedures) has been well established. Despite being a robust predictor of future pain and distress, memories of past painful experiences remain overlooked in pediatric pain management. Just as autobiographical memories prepare us for the future, children’s memories for past pain can be harnessed to prepare children for future painful experiences. Children’s pain memories are malleable and can be reframed to be less distressing, thus reducing anticipatory distress and promoting self-efficacy. Parents are powerful agents of change in the context of pediatric pain and valuable historians of children’s past painful experiences. They can alter children’s pain memories to be less distressing simply by talking, or reminiscing, about past pain. This narrative review summarizes existing research on parent–child reminiscing in the context of acute and chronic pediatric pain and argues for incorporation of parent–child reminiscing elements into preparatory interventions for painful procedures.

A memory-reframing intervention to reduce pain in youth undergoing major surgery: Pilot randomized controlled trial of feasibility and acceptability

“…We have also recently argued for the inclusion of memory-reframing principles into preparation for painful procedures. 55 An abbreviated version of the intervention principles with the focus on building up pain-related self-efficacy and reminding youth about past successful coping strategies may be included in future trials in preparation for surgery. Finally, it was not possible to blind participants and the interventionist to group allocation, which is common for psychosocial interventions.…”

Let's (Not) Talk About Pain: Mothers' and Fathers' Beliefs Regarding Reminiscing About Past Pain

“…Parents' beliefs that reminiscing about past pain may function as prevention of or preparation for future pain align with the existing theoretical models of preparatory interventions in procedural pain [for a review, see ( 28 )]. Preparing children for painful medical procedures often employs, relies on, and/or has to consider children's memories for past pain of a similar nature [for a review, see ( 29 )]. Parent beliefs that reminiscing about past pain may serve as a useful lesson in preventing and/or preparing for future pain may fuel parental willingness to participate in preparatory interventions with reminiscing elements [for a discussion, see ( 29 )].…”

“…Preparing children for painful medical procedures often employs, relies on, and/or has to consider children's memories for past pain of a similar nature [for a review, see ( 29 )]. Parent beliefs that reminiscing about past pain may serve as a useful lesson in preventing and/or preparing for future pain may fuel parental willingness to participate in preparatory interventions with reminiscing elements [for a discussion, see ( 29 )].…”

Development and validation of the Distracting Ingenuity Promotion Scale for paediatric nurses to support the psychological outcomes of paediatric patients and their families: A survey‐based cross‐sectional cohort study

“…These emotional responses can delay crucial medical treatment, prolong the time to complete treatment and reduce patient satisfaction (Lerwick, 2016). Moreover, even without the physical, invasive or painful processes of medical procedures, children can experience anxiety related to equipment, settings and pain remembrance (von Baeyer et al., 2004; Pavlova et al., 2020). Such emotional experiences that also increase parental anxiety cause serious problems (Oommen & Shetty, 2020).…”