Improving pain communication for children in emergency departments

Evaluating pain communication and understanding in interpreted medical encounters in a pediatric emergency department

NIH-funded research University of California-Irvine · NIH-11007179

This study is looking at how to better understand and talk about pain for young children aged 1-6 who need help with language in emergency rooms, so that families from different backgrounds can get the best care possible when their child is in pain.

Quick facts

Grant typeFellowship grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California-Irvine NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Irvine, United States)
Project IDNIH-11007179 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on enhancing how pain is communicated and understood in pediatric emergency settings, particularly for children aged 1-6 who require interpretation services. By examining the sociocultural factors that affect pain assessment and management, the study aims to identify gaps in communication among caregivers, children, interpreters, and clinicians. The approach involves a mixed methods design to gather insights from a diverse group of participants, ensuring that pain management strategies are culturally relevant and effective. The ultimate goal is to improve pain assessment and treatment for language-diverse families in emergency situations.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 1-6 years who present to the emergency department with pain-related complaints and come from language-diverse families.

Not a fit: Patients who are older than 6 years or do not require interpretation services may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better pain management practices for children from diverse linguistic backgrounds in emergency departments.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has indicated that addressing cultural and linguistic barriers can significantly improve patient outcomes, suggesting that this approach has the potential for success.

Where this research is happening

Irvine, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.