A Lifespan Approach towards Paediatric Pain Management: from Neonates to Young Adults

AIM: The aim for this research topic is to highlight the importance of a lifespan approach towards paediatric pain, in which paediatric and adult pain services as well as community-based services (e.g., 3rd sector organisations, schools, employers, leisure facilities, social services, and health visitors) work together in partnership to support continuity of care and consistency in managing acute and chronic pain experiences.



Beyond the impact on continuity of care, a lifespan and community approach towards pain management is of great importance to support clear management pathways and the development of effective pain management skills in childhood, which will help to support development and prevent long-term pain/disability into adulthood.





Within the broad area of lifespan approach towards pain management, we are particularly looking for articles that cover the following priority areas:



1. Trajectories of pain experiences throughout the lifespan - This priority area covers research that prospectively explores pain experiences, in terms of contributing factors to pain, (long-term) impacts of pain and understanding the transition from acute – chronic pain.



2. Healthcare transitions - this priority area covers research evaluations and clinical approaches to support effective and appropriate transitions from paediatric to adult care services, amongst various transitions young adults go through in this period of time.



3. Person-centred pain management. - this priority area would identify innovative and evolving pain management that is individualised to the young person and embedded in their wider context of their family and life.

Keywords: Paediatric pain, Lifespan approach, Pain management, Healthcare transitions, Continuity of care, Chronic pain, Acute pain, Person-centred care, Pain trajectories, Community-based services

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.