Limited research has been conducted that focuses on a child’s concept of pain. 16 Despite drawing tasks being a robust interview strategy with children, 17 these methods have not been applied to paediatric pain research to investigate a child’s concept of pain. Clinically, a range of methods for educational assessments and treatments are used for adults with persistent pain including drawing tasks. 14 A person’s concept of pain can be defined as how they understand ‘what pain actually is, what function it serves and what biological processes are thought to underpin it’ 15 these can be summarised as the ‘what, why and how of pain’. 13 An important part of the multidisciplinary approach is pain science education, aiming to change a person’s concept of pain and to improve pain and function by teaching the underlying biopsychosocial mechanisms of pain. Multidisciplinary pain management is currently the gold standard for persistent pain management.

9 An increasing number of children are being admitted to hospitals for treatment of persistent pain 10 and health service costs are high. For example, persistent pain in childhood could predict persistent pain in adulthood 6 and is associated with increased pain-related disability, 2 school absence, 7 poorer reading levels 8 and emotional distress. 4 Persistent pain in children has detrimental effects on a child’s quality of life 5 and is a significant socioeconomic and health problem.

Estimates of point prevalence of persistent pain (pain that extends beyond the expected period of healing 1) throughout childhood range from 11% to 54%, 2 3 which is comparable to that for adults.

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