Kids B.E.A.R. Pain: A Pediatric Chronic Pain Protocol

Patients with chronic pain utilize health care services up to five times the rate of the general population while pediatric chronic pain admissions from 2004-2010 increased by 831% (Coffelt et al., 2013; Reddy, 2006). Further complicating this public health epidemic are co-morbid conditions resulting in poor sleep, depression, and anxiety as well as psycho-social problems related to school truancy and poor social networks. Caregiver attitude towards pain may also negatively contribute to the illness, i.e., caregivers may increase chronic pain and functional disability by promoting sedentary lifestyles due to fear avoidance behaviors (Palermo et al., 2014). Interventions are needed to assist adolescents that experience chronic pain. The following is a detailed overview of the Kids B.E.A.R. Pain intervention protocol, a support program for pediatric patients experiencing chronic pain and their caregivers.