The relationship of pain catastrophizing in principal caregivers of postoperative children with malignant bone tumors and children's kinesiophobia and pain perception: A cross-sectional survey.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To examine the phenomenon of pain catastrophizing among the principal caregivers of postoperative children with malignant bone tumors and explore its impact on pain perception and kinesiophobia in children. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study design. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional study design, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 140 children with malignant bone tumors and their principal caregivers, who were admitted to a tertiary hospital in Shanghai from 2020 to 2023. Pearson's univariate and multiple regression analyses were conducted. The questionnaire included general data, the Parental Pain Catastrophizing Scale, the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, and the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia. RESULTS: The frequency of pain catastrophizing for the principal caregivers was 16.8%. The frequency of kinesiophobia in children was 93.1%. The level of pain catastrophizing was positively correlated with the level of kinesiophobia and pain perception (r = 0.556, 0.614, p < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the level of pain catastrophizing in principal caregivers was an important factor of kinesiophobia in children (B = 0.370, Std. = 0.119, Wald = 9.687, Ex (P) = 1.448, p = 0.002). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the incidence of pain catastrophizing and the level of kinesiophobia were important influencing factors in pain perception (p < 0.05), with R2 = 0.272, adjusted R2 = 0.249, F = 11.579, and p < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: The level of pain catastrophizing in the principal caregivers was an important factor in postoperative kinesiophobia and pain perception in children with a malignant bone tumor. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS It is important to evaluate the patients' and their families' emotional changes and psychological needs during the perioperative period. Nurses play a crucial role in providing appropriate interventions for patients or families to reduce the negative pain experience and improve patients' prognosis.