The Availability & Efficacy of Non-Pharmacological Interventions For Pain Management for Children with Sickle Cell Disease: A Systematic Review of the Literature

The Availability & Efficacy of Non-Pharmacological Interventions

For Pain Management for Children with Sickle Cell Disease:

A Systematic Review of the Literature

Uchenna N. Onyema-Jones

Faculty Sponsor: Tamara Poole, MS, APN, FNP-BC

Background: Pain is the leading cause of hospitalizations for many pediatric patients with sickle cell disease and unfortunately it is often sub-optimally managed by healthcare professionals with pharmacological interventions.

Objectives: The purpose of this systematic literature review was to examine the availability and efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions used to manage pain in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease.

Method: A systemic literature review was conducted using the databases of Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL) Complete, ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source, and PubMed. The keywords used in this search included: sickle cell disease, child, pain, management, nursing, and interventions.

Results: From the extensive review of literature, four non-pharmacological pain interventions were deemed effective to reduce pain for pediatric patients with sickle cell disease. Those interventions included; guided imagery, massage therapy, use of video games as a distraction modality, and omega-3 supplementation.

Conclusion: Additional studies are needed to find more effective non-pharmacological interventions for pain in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease. Furthermore, nurses who care for these pediatric patients should be able to help them cope, recognize signs of complications, involve appropriate support agencies, but most importantly recognize, assess, and treat pain.