THE EFFECTS OF PARENTAL ANXIETY AND MEDICATION ATTITUDES ON THE USE OF PAIN MEDICATION IN PEDIATRIC CANCER PATIENTS Narvaez, Vincent Reginald F. Department of Anesthesiology

Parents of pediatric cancer patients experience uncertainty with regards to cancer-related pain. Parental pain management at home is very important in managing the overall symptoms of pediatric cancer patients. It is very important to investigate the relationship between parental anxiety and pain medication use. Studies have suggested that more anxious parents tend to experience more symptoms of acute stress compared to less anxious parents. Studies in postoperative children have also found that parental attitudes can be a barrier in pain management. In this study, I hypothesized that parents having more favorable attitudes to medication will administer more analgesics to their children. I also hypothesized that increased levels of anxiety in parents will lead to a greater use of analgesic medication in the management of pediatric cancer pain. The study found that parents who have less misconceptions about medication Avoidance (p = 0.09) and Appropriate use (p = 0.03) administered more medication to their children. Parental attitudes regarding Fear of Side Effects did not significantly impact the administration of medication. In terms of anxiety, only child-trait anxiety showed a significant relationship with the administration of medication (p = 0.04). The implications of this study may include parental counseling and intervention by the healthcare providers on medication administration. The healthcare providers must address questions regarding how much medication, how often, and what signs to look for. This way, pediatric cancer patients are adequately and appropriately treated for pain at home.