Peer mentorship teaches social tools for pain self-management: A case study (original) (raw)

Journal of pain management, 2013

Abstract

Pain in children can become chronic and disabling, associated with high degrees of social isolation from schooling absences, physical limitations that prevent participation in social settings, and difficulties forming self-identity. This lack of social support network impairs social coping skills and can lead to worsening pain symptoms. In this case study, we describe a new program to disrupt the cycle of social isolation and chronic pain by emphasizing social coping skills via peer mentorship. The program aimed to utilize peers who have learned to self-manage their own chronic pain to assist patients with social coping skills to reduce isolation caused by chronic pain conditions. Children and adolescents with chronic pain. This case describes the experience of a 17 year-old, African American boy with diffuse chronic body pain as a participant ("the mentee") in the program; his mentor was a 19 year-old girl with chronic pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis. The mentor...

Jennie Tsao hasn't uploaded this paper.

Let Jennie know you want this paper to be uploaded.

Ask for this paper to be uploaded.