Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42444389›Full record

ArticlePsycho-oncology2026

Pain Experiences During Early Treatment for Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Qualitative Study.

Kimberly L Klages, Cecelia I Nelson, Julia K Herriott, Robin E Norris, Meghan E McGrady, Susmita Kashikar-Zuck, Ahna L H Pai

Abstract read
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Article in Psycho-oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Kimberly L KlagesDivision of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4433-5924
Cecelia I NelsonDivision of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Julia K HerriottDivision of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Robin E NorrisDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Meghan E McGradyDivision of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Susmita Kashikar-ZuckDivision of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Ahna L H PaiCenter for Biobehavioral Health, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA.

Funding

Center for Clinical and Translational Science and TrainingUM1TR005265 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI · PI Jareen Meinzen-Derr, Jeffrey Robert Strawn · 2025 to 2026
$10.6M
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development T32HD068223National Institutes of Health Clinical and Translational Science Award UM1TR005265NCATS NIH HHS UM1 TR005265
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPain is a common and distressing symptom for pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), arising from the disease itself, its treatment, and associated medical procedures. The early phase of treatment is particularly challenging, as children experience multiple, rapidly evolving sources of pain. Despite its prevalence, pain during this period remains poorly characterized. This study qualitatively examined pain experiences among children with ALL during induction and early consolidation.

methodsTwenty caregivers of children with ALL (ages 2-17) and eight patients (ages 8-17) participated in two semi-structured interviews capturing pain experiences across early treatment. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

resultsEight themes described key dimensions of the pain experience: Sources of Pain, Pain Characteristics, Pain-Related Symptoms, Factors Influencing Pain, Pain Impact, Pain Expression, Pain Management Tools, and Barriers to Pain Management. These themes reflected the evolving, multidimensional nature of pain during early treatment.

conclusionsChildren with ALL experience substantial and multifaceted pain early in their cancer trajectory. Findings underscore the need for early, developmentally informed, and family-centered approaches to pain assessment and management that address the complex and evolving nature of pain during initial treatment.

Indexed as

Cancer PainPainPain ManagementPrecursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-LymphomaAdolescentCaregiversChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansMalePain MeasurementQualitative ResearchALLassessmentcanceroncologypainpediatric

Identifiers

PMID42444389
PMCPMC13366143

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.