Exploring the Prevalence of Pediatric Chronic Pain and School Absenteeism for Therapists Working in Schools: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Aim

To explore the prevalence of school absenteeism for children with chronic pain and to identify the characteristics of children with chronic pain who report absenteeism.

Methods

Systematic review with meta-analyses of quantitative studies. Studies were included if they reported mean days absent from school in children with chronic pain aged 5–18 years, attending a full-time school program. Quality of evidence was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Participant characteristics of age, gender, pain duration, pain type, and data collection setting were collated.

Results

Eighteen quantitative studies involving 2963 children with chronic were included. Studies had moderate to high quality of evidence. Meta-analysis demonstrated 13.28 mean days were spent absent from school in a 60-day period (95% CI 10.21, 16.34) (p < 0.001). Participants were predominantly females (71.8%) aged 14.1 years (SD 2.32). The most experienced pain type was combined headache or head pain (46.9%) and average duration since pain onset was 32.5 months (SD 36.34).

Conclusions

Children with chronic pain aged 5–18 years are absent for approximately 22% of school days, in a 60-day period. Early, targeted intervention for absenteeism and poor school functioning is recommended. Future research could evaluate the role of school-based therapists in screening at risk students and improving attendance and outcomes.

Keywords:

• Children and adolescents
• education
• pediatric chronic pain
• school absenteeism
• school attendance
• school functioning

Acknowledgements

A special thank-you to Bryan Lloyd-Jones, Donna Lamprecht and the Queensland Department of Education for their support of this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor change. This change do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jen Norton

Jen Norton is a Physiotherapist based on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. Jen has a special interest in pediatric complex disability and in particular chronic pain prevalence and intervention in this population.

Nicole Southon

Nicole Southon is a Senior Occupational Therapist with clinical specialism in pediatrics. Nicole is interested in the evidence surrounding the impact of chronic pain on student access, participation and achievement in school.