Physicians' attitudes toward pain in children.

Physicians' attitudes toward pain in children were assessed in an attempt to explain why adults are administered more analgesics than children while in the hospital. A survey was conducted of all pediatricians, family practitioners, and surgeons in Hartford. Fifty-seven percent of the sample responded (112/195). Seventy-five percent of the sample felt that children experienced adult-like pain by age 2. Thirty-eight percent of the physicians were somewhat or significantly concerned about the risk of addiction when using narcotics in their young patients. Pediatricians were significantly more likely than surgeons or family practitioners to see younger children as having adult-like pain and to prescribe analgesics for children at an earlier age. Many other attitudinal differences were also related to specialty. Other demographic variables (age, sex, mode of practice, and personal experience with pain) had little effect on attitudes. These findings suggest possible explanations for the discrepancy between child and adult analgesic prescribing practices.