A Twycross

..Previous studies have relied on self-report measures; there is a need to establish exactly how nurses manage children's pain in practice...

..To ascertain whether there is a relationship between the perceived importance of pain management tasks and the quality of an individual nurse's practice...

..The authors reflect on their own experience of submitting a multi-centred research study for funding, outlining the problems encountered and key elements of successful collaboration...

..The hypothesis, put forward in other studies, that increasing nurses' theoretical knowledge about pain will improve practices may be overly simplistic...

..To gain an understanding of how children's nurses make clinical decisions...

..The aims of this study are to review research published in the past 15 years to provide insight into the factors impacting on the management of pain in children and identify strategies that can be used to improve pain management practices...

..Others have found that changes in behaviour do occur. It is possible that innovative teaching strategies need to be used. The literature in this area is reviewed and recommendations made...

..However, research suggests that a lack of effective communication, professional expectations and issues of power and control often inhibit open and mutual negotiation between families and nurses...

..This model is recommended as the way forward to ensure children's nursing is fit for the future..

..Nurses need to be aware of the way they interact with parents and the control they may unwittingly exert. A greater emphasis on communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills within nurse education is also needed...