[Assessment of pain and anxiety related to painful medical procedures in pediatric oncology].

In this article we review the instruments most commonly used in clinical practice and research to assess the pain and anxiety experienced by children with cancer undergoing painful medical procedures. Issues such as the prevalence of pain in childhood cancer, the psychologic impact of medical procedures in children, and the efforts some institutions are making to implement pediatric pain assessment programs are also reviewed, bearing in mind that pain is a subjective and multidimensional experience. Behavioral measures, self-reports, multidimensional assessment tools and physiological measures are included, emphasizing the importance of self-reports, which are considered the gold standard in pediatric pain assessment. This literature review indicates the need for research and for the education of health care professionals in pediatric pain assessment. Finally, recommendations for pediatric pain assessment are suggested.