A client is a 5-year-old boy who is recovering from a broken leg.
He is experiencing pain in his leg.
The nurse is assessing the client's pain.
Which of the following statements by the nurse is most appropriate?

Emotional and psychological factors can influence the experience and perception of pain.

Choice A rationale:

Psychosocial factors have no influence on pain perception in children.

This statement is incorrect.

Psychosocial factors, including emotions and psychological well-being, can significantly impact pain perception in children.

Pain is a complex phenomenon influenced by various factors, and emotional and psychological states play a crucial role in how a child experiences and copes with pain.

Factors such as anxiety, fear, stress, and previous experiences can all affect a child's perception of pain.

Choice B rationale:

Emotional and psychological factors can influence the experience and perception of pain.

This is the correct answer.

Emotional and psychological factors, such as anxiety, stress, and a child's emotional state, can influence how they perceive and experience pain.

For example, a child who is anxious may report more intense pain than another child with the same injury but without anxiety.

Understanding and addressing these psychosocial factors is essential in providing effective pain management for children.

Choice C rationale:

Psychosocial factors only affect chronic pain, not acute pain.

This statement is not accurate.

Psychosocial factors can influence both acute and chronic pain.

While they may have a more significant impact on chronic pain due to its prolonged nature, they can also affect the perception of acute pain.

For example, a child's anxiety during a medical procedure can increase the intensity of acute pain.

Choice D rationale:

Pain perception is solely determined by physiological factors and not influenced by emotions.

This statement is incorrect.

Pain perception is not solely determined by physiological factors.

Emotions, thoughts, and psychological factors can modulate the perception of pain.

The brain processes both the sensory and emotional aspects of pain, making it a multidimensional experience.

Choice B rationale:

Burning and tingling pain is often associated with neuropathic pain, which involves dysfunction or damage to the nervous system.

This description is not consistent with the typical characteristics of nociceptive pain.

Choice C rationale:

Psychogenic pain is pain that is primarily driven by psychological factors and is not related to a physical injury or condition.

The child's swollen and tender right arm indicates a physical issue, making psychogenic pain less likely.

Choice D rationale:

Visceral pain typically originates from internal organs and is not typically associated with localized symptoms such as a swollen and tender arm.

It is not the most likely type of pain in this scenario.

The rationale for choice A is as follows: Nociceptive pain is caused by the activation of specialized sensory receptors (nociceptors) in response to tissue damage or inflammation.

In this case, the child is crying, guarding their right arm, and exhibits physical signs of swelling and tenderness.

These symptoms are indicative of a physical injury or condition that is causing pain.

Nociceptive pain is the most likely type of pain in this scenario, as it corresponds with the physical signs and the absence of clear evidence of neuropathic, psychogenic, or visceral pain.

The nurse should further assess the arm and work to identify the underlying cause of the child's nociceptive pain for appropriate management.