Pain assessment in children and adolescents with Down's Syndrome: an integrative review

• Grant number: 24/20855-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Principal Investigator: Cristina Ortiz Sobrinho Valete
• Grantee: Sophia Elisa da Silva Vicente
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Down Syndrome (DS) is the most frequent genetic alteration in humans, and these individuals may have differences in pain perception due to alterations in nerve conduction and pain threshold. Additionally, pain can affect any human being, regardless of age, even if they do not verbally express such painful feelings. In vulnerable populations, such as individuals with DS, pain is often an under-recognized concept, especially within the scope of Pediatrics. Objective: To identify the practices - or lack thereof - regarding pain assessment in children and adolescents with Down syndrome. Methods: This is an integrative review, in which a bibliographic search will be conducted in previously selected databases. The guiding question of this study is "Which scales are being used to assess pain in children and adolescents with Down syndrome?", both international and national databases will be utilized. The search strategy was designed for each database within its scope, based on the research question and following the PIRO (Population: children and adolescents; Index test: pain assessment scale; Reference test: another scale or no comparison; Outcome: pain assessment) acronym. Expected results: To contribute to the practices of pain assessment in children and adolescents with Down's syndrome, identifying opportunities for improvement, and this way, offer quality care to these patients.