Biomedical subjects

Riitta-Liisa Kortesluoma

Publications and source records attributed to Riitta-Liisa Kortesluoma.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

'The most disgusting ever': children's pain descriptions and views of the purpose of pain.

This article examines an area of a larger research project, aimed at investigating hospitalized children's experiences of pain. Descriptions of pain and views regarding the purpose of four to 11-year-old children's pain were investigated. A total of 44 hospitalized children participated in the study. The data were collected by means of a qualitative interview with the children. Using qualitative content analysis, interviews were coded and categories identified. Participant descriptions aimed at generalizing the pain. The children specified the nature of the pain and used paraphrases and metaphors. The study demonstrated that most of the children were able to articulate the purpose that they ascribe to their pain. The findings challenge nursing staff to regard the suffering child as an active partner in assessing their pain. An enhanced understanding can better prepare nurses for participating in the management of hospitalized children's pain.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2004

'I had this horrible pain': the sources and causes of pain experiences in 4- to 11-year-old hospitalized children.

Researchers have relied, almost without exception, on adults for qualitative information about children's pain. However, adults may provide only a limited view of children's pain experience. The purpose of this article is to describe the events considered painful by children. Forty-four children participated in the study. They had been admitted for different reasons into different wards of a university hospital. The data consisted of qualitative child interviews and was analysed using inductive content analysis. The pain experience of children came from four main sources: 1. pain as a symptom of a diagnosed illness, 2. pain caused by medical and diagnostic procedures and basic nursing, 3. pain caused by accidents and 4. inexplicable pain not caused by a particular illness or injury. Children are able to report and describe their pain. Children should be regarded as experts on their pain in order to maximize the options for pain management.

Child↗

PubMed2003

Conducting a qualitative child interview: methodological considerations.

BACKGROUND: Studies of children have a long history, but the literature related to young children consists for the most part of studies on rather than with children and taking little account of what is regarded as significant and meaningful by children themselves. Researchers have relied almost exclusively on adults when collecting data about children's thoughts, feelings and experiences. Interviewing children, however, gives an opportunity to gain information about their subjective experiences. AIM: The purpose of this article is to illustrate the theoretical premises of child interviewing, as well as to describe some practical methodological solutions used during interviews. Factors that influence data gathered from children and strategies for taking these factors into consideration during the interview are also described. METHOD: This paper is based on literature and the experience of one of the authors in interviewing children aged from 4 to 11 years about their experiences of pain. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION: A consideration of literature dealing with the principles of child interviewing shows that there is surprisingly little guidance available on conversational methods involving children. The empirical and conceptual foundation for child interviewing is not very clear. Novice researchers especially may need recommendations about how to conduct a qualitative child interview. The method must suit both the purpose and the context.

Child↗