Wisconsin's COVID-19 Safer-at-Home Order: Perspectives on Pain, Stress, and Functioning from Pediatric Patients with Chronic Pain.

BACKGROUND:Given that enforced quarantine is associated with psychological distress, our objective was to understand factors that either helped or harmed pediatric chronic pain patients during Wisconsin's 2020 safer-at-home quarantine.METHODS:We reviewed the electronic medical records of 145 pediatric chronic pain patients seen at the Jane B. Pettit Pain and Headache Center, Children's Wisconsin, between April 1 and July 30, 2020.RESULTS:Stress and poor/disturbed lifestyle factors were primary contributors to increased pain. Over half of the sample (58.7%) reported COVID-related stressors as contributing to increased stress levels. Coping, engagement, and socialization were primary contributors to patient functioning.CONCLUSIONS:Continued access to clinicians who can help with coping and stress management techniques is necessary for the well-being of pediatric chronic pain patients during a quarantine.