RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Comparison between children and adolescents with and without chronic benign pain: consultation rate and pain characteristics. JF British Journal of General Practice JO Br J Gen Pract FD British Journal of General Practice SP 211 OP 213 VO 52 IS 476 A1 Francijna C A van Eekelen A1 Christel W Perquin A1 Joke A M Hunfeld A1 Alice A J M Hazebroek-Kampschreur A1 Lisette W A van Suijlekom-Smit A1 Bart W Koes A1 Jan Passchier A1 Johannes C van der Wouden YR 2002 UL http://bjgp.org/content/52/476/211.abstract AB The aim of the study was to determine whether children with chronic benign pain are in contact with their general practitioner (GP) more frequently than those without chronic benign pain. A random sample of children and adolescents aged between 0 and 18 years of age was drawn from the records of ten general practices. According to their responses to a pain questionnaire, subjects were assigned to the chronic benign pain group (n = 95) if they had pain of more than three months' duration, or to the control group (n = 105) if they had pain of less than three months' duration or no pain at all. All the subjects had an average GP consultation rate of 2.6 contacts per year. No significant age and sex differences were found. Chronic benign pain in childhood and adolescence is not related to increased use of healthcare services, suggesting that somatisation does not play a major role in children with chronic benign pain.