[Pain and pain management for children in Greifswald and East Pomerania: comparison with the results of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS)]

Abstract

Aim of the study: Pain in children and adolescents in Germany is a common health problem which has a high socioeconomic impact. There have been no studies allowing a reliable estimation of the prevalence of pain in children in the 5 (th) grade (age range 9-13 years) in schools in the region of the city of Greifswald and the administrative district East Pomerania. This population-based cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of pain in children, the treatment of pain and compared these data with the results of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS).

Methods: Data were collected within the extended dental school examination in autumn 2007 including a self-completion questionnaire for the students. Also the parents answered a self-completion questionnaire containing questions on their children's socio-economic status. The pain and sociodemographic questions are compatible with those used in the "German Health Survey for Children and Adolescents" (KiGGS).

Results: Students from 19 schools completed a questionnaire on general pain (n=852, proportion of response: 93.2%, mean age: 10 years). Comparing to the KiGGS the overall 3-month prevalence is much higher (95.5%). For boys and girls headache is the pain associated with the most burden ("Hauptschmerz"). 1/4 of the girls (27.9%) and 1/5 (22.4%) of the boys reported their pain with the most burden during the last 3 months with a frequency of at least one time per week. Students with low socio-economic status took medication against pain ("Hauptschmerz") less frequently than students with high socio-economic status. Because of their pain ("Hauptschmerz") students with low socio-economic status visited a doctor less often than students with a mean or high socio-economic status.

Conclusion: Compared to other epidemiological studies, pain is also a common health problem for children in the city of Greifswald and the administrative district East Pomerania. The data base enables comprehensive conclusions on the health-related state of students in Greifswald/East Pomerania. Further studies should examine additional factors on medication and the degree of doctor?s visits, e. g., parental attitudes towards medication and parental motivation towards the degree of visiting a doctor.