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Much of what we know about the meaning and experience of pain has been facilitated through qualitative research. However, qualitative inquiry continues to be underrepresented in the pain literature relative to quantitative approaches. In this Commentary and Introduction to the Special Issue on Qualitative Research and Pain, we present a collection of high-quality, cutting-edge qualitative studies in pain that highlight theoretical and methodological advancements in the field. The articles included in this Special Issue feature a range of designs (e.g., grounded theory, phenomenology, qualitative description), methods of data collection (e.g., interviews, object elicitation, photovoice), and populations (e.g., immigrant women, individuals with heart disease). Throughout this Commentary we also address three common controversies regarding the quality of qualitative research and the stance we took on them for the Issue. These primarily deal with the procedure-related issues of sample size, generalizability, and saturation. We discuss how a more substantive-centered approach to evaluation—that is, an approach that considers the methodological and theoretical significance of the work—is crucial for advancing qualitative research in pain.

Background Everyday pain experiences (minor bumps/scrapes) are common in early childhood and create frequent opportunities for socialization of pain behaviors. Nevertheless, everyday pain during the formative toddler period has been largely overlooked. Aims The aim of the current study was to describe the frequency and nature of toddlers’ everyday pain experiences, child and parent responses, and the relationship between child characteristics (age, sex, temperament) and responses. Methods Fifty-two children aged 12–32 months and their parents were observed at an indoor play facility. Using an observational checklist, trained observers recorded children’s everyday pain incidents and associated child and parent responses. Results Overall, 101 pain incidents were observed, the majority of which evoked low levels of pain and distress, which resolved after 1 min. Pain incidents occurred at a rate of 1.02 incidents/child/hour, with 81% of children experiencing at least one incident, which is higher than previous research with preschoolers and daycare staff. Common parent responses included a range of verbal (reassurance) and nonverbal (staying closer, hugging/kissing child) behaviors. Boys were more likely to not exhibit any protective behaviors. Parents were more likely to pick up older toddlers. Conclusions Future research should examine the link between self-reported and observed parent responses to child pain in everyday and clinical contexts.

Introduction/Aim: Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) affects approximately 24,000 children throughout Canada, many of whom report pain as the predominant symptom. Caregivers play an important role in managing JIA-related pain; not only are they the primary support, many are also tasked with administering potentially painful treatments at home. This study explored caregivers’ confidence and information needs in managing their child’s pain. Methods: Recruitment took place worldwide by engaging partner organizations and sharing across online and social media platforms. 216 caregivers of children with JIA aged 0–17 participated in an online survey, completing questions about their child’s arthritis and pain, and their own information needs. Participants were predominantly mothers (96%) residing in North America (77%). Results: Caregivers reported lacking confidence in alleviating their child’s arthritis-related pain (M = 4.11, SD = 2.60, range = 0–10). Although all participants reported wanting some information, regressions demonstrate that lower caregiver confidence related to a need for more information [t = −2.91, β = −0.34 (−0.57, −0.12)]. The most frequently identified needs included managing emotions related to painful experiences (60%) and differentiating arthritis pain from normal pain (56%). Caregivers strongly valued developing partnerships between researchers and parent organizations wherein evidence-based information related to arthritis pain could be shared (M = 4.25, SD = 1.05, range = 1–5). Discussion/Conclusions: As caregivers of children with JIA are tasked with helping to manage their child’s pain, it is important that they have the necessary tools to do so. This research demonstrates that although parents’ lack confidence in pain management, they are keen to learn more. Implications will be discussed for knowledge translation within this community.