PainLink Presents

Hot off the Press

March 2001

Resource Review: "No Fears, No Tears - 13 Years Later"
Karen Kaiser, MS, RN, AOCN.

"No Fears, No Tears - 13 Years Later" is a poignant forty-six minute videotape produced by Dr. Leora Kuttner that focuses on the effects of undergoing painful experiences for young children with cancer. The video utilizes footage from children who experienced painful procedures intermixed with dialogue that sheds light on these experiences from these same individuals as young adults.

The trauma experienced by these children as painful procedures are performed without adequate analgesia haunts the viewer. As young adults, they share that these memories are still vividly recalled. They talk about their lack of control over events, the anxiety and fear they experienced during their treatment for cancer, and the fact that painful events were feared more than cancer itself.

Over the course of the video, it appears that the children learn how to effectively manage their pain through coaching by health care professionals and their parents in non-pharmacologic techniques such as distraction, imagery, and play. The incredible effects of non-pharmacologic techniques in managing pain in children as young as three are striking and are demonstrated by video footage from the past as well as their recollections as adults. These powerful non-pharmacologic techniques continue to be relied upon by these individuals throughout their life. Unfortunately this may come at the expense of denying themselves the use of pharmacologic methods of pain control in later life.

Despite the profound effects of non-pharmacologics, a pain specialist cannot help but wonder about the benefits that could have been experienced with concomitant use of pharmacologics. However those who are unfamiliar with the effects of pharmacologics on procedural pain may not appreciate this fine point. The video would benefit from clearly articulating this is the gold standard for the management of procedural pain in children.

This videotape can be used with health care professionals and ancillary staff to dispel several myths about pain and its management such as children do not remember pain, procedural pain cannot be effectively controlled, and children cannot be taught non-pharmacologic management of pain. It also highlights the need for controlling pain from the advent of the first procedure, especially pain from IVs, LPs and bone marrow aspirations.

Copies of "No Fears, No Tears? 13 Years Later" may be obtained for professional use for $195:
Fanlight Productions
4196 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02131
(800) 937-4113

For further information, see http://www.fanlight.com/catalog/films/277_nfnt.htm

To read past PainLink Hot off the Press features, go to the Archives page.

Last Updated: May 23, 2001