Assessment, Communication and Management of Chronic Pain in Children and Young People: Current Challenges and Potential Interventions
A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine and Palliative Care".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 April 2026 | Viewed by 68
Special Issue Editors
2. National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester M13 9WU, UK
Interests: chronic pain; children and young people; healthcare communication; pain assessment; pain management; qualitative research; psychology
2. Brain Stimulation, Imaging and Cognition Research Group, School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
3. Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
4. Women's and Children's Hospital, 72 King William Rd, North Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia
Interests: chronic pain; children and young people; healthcare communication; primary care
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Background and history of this topic:
Chronic pain in childhood and adolescence is a complex and still under-recognised health issue, with wide-ranging consequences for children and young people’s physical, psychological, and social development. The way pain is assessed, communicated about, and managed across healthcare, family, and educational contexts can significantly shape children and young people’s health outcomes and influence the long-term trajectory of chronic pain into adulthood.
Despite increasing recognition of the burden of paediatric chronic pain, substantial challenges remain. These include difficulties in reliably assessing pain in this group, wide variability in communication approaches, and persistent evidence of problematic communication approaches such as pain dismissal. Limited access to timely and effective pain management strategies further compounds these challenges, leaving many children and young people without the support they need.
Aim and scope of the Special Issue:
The aim of this Special Issue, “Assessment, Communication and Management of Chronic Pain in Children and Young People: Current Challenges and Potential Interventions”, is to highlight recent developments and innovative approaches in understanding, discussing, and addressing paediatric chronic pain. We are particularly interested in contributions that examine how pain is assessed and measured, how communication about pain occurs between young people, families, healthcare professionals, and across broader social circles, as well as how management strategies—pharmacological, physical, and psychological—can be better harnessed and communicated to improve children and young people's health outcomes.
Cutting-edge research:
We especially seek submissions that offer novel insights into innovative pain assessment tools (including digital pain assessment tools), communication frameworks that use strength-based language to promote validation, well-being, and shared understanding, and studies that advance knowledge of pain prevention strategies and early intervention. We especially seek submissions on how to address inequities in access to care.
What kind of papers are we soliciting:
We welcome a wide range of contributions, including original research articles (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods) as well as systematic and scoping reviews. Papers that translate research findings into clinical practice, highlight service innovations, and prioritise the voices of children, young people, and families will be particularly valued.
Dr. Rebecca Lee
Guest Editor
Dr. Carolyn Berryman
Co-Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- chronic pain
- children and young people assessment
- healthcare communication
- management
- challenges
- interventions
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