Cultural Factors Influencing Children's Pain

Purpose: To describe the cultural factors that are related to children's pain based on research findings reported in scientific articles 1995-2009. These factors are important to identify to conduct culturally sensitive care for children suffering from pain. Methods: In this literature analysis, altogether 14 studies were analysed by using content analysis with Leininger's Culture Care Theory (technological, religious and philosophical, kinship and social, cultural values and lifeways, political and legal, economic, educational factors) was used as framework for the analysis. Results: Religious and philosophical factors, kinship and social factors, cultural values and lifeways, political and legal factors, and economical and educational factors were found to be related to children's pain. The relation was focused on both acute, recurrent and chronic pain. Discussion and conclusions: In a global view, there are several cultural factors that are related to children's pain in different settings. Many of these factors are culturally valued and could be difficult to modify. More research is needed to understand specific cultural influences that maintain traditions and practices leading to children's suffering from pain. Implications for practice: Nurses should be aware of cultural factors that may have influence on children's pain. By providing information to children and their parents some of these traditions and cultural factors might be modified.