![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/dhil\/files\/2022\/11\/child-clinic-doctor.jpg\")
Dr. Matthias G\u00f6rges<\/a>, Dr. Michael Wood, Kim Correa, Peijia Ding, Dr. Rama Sreepada, Kent Loftsgard, Isabel Jordan, Nicholas West, Dr. Simon Whyte<\/a>, and Dr. Elodie Portales-Casamar recently defined the requirements and features needed for the development of a pediatric pain risk communication tool prototype. To do this, they conducted a qualitative study of 10 clinicians (four nurse practitioners and six physicians) and nine family members of pediatric patients who\u2019d had surgery at BC Children\u2019s Hospital.<\/p>\n\n \u201cThis study is part of a larger project to develop pain risk prediction tools,\u201d says Dr. G\u00f6rges. \u201cHere, we aimed to design an easy-to-use pain risk communication tool to communicate children\u2019s risk of post-surgical pain to both clinicians and family members. This tool would help improve or replace current processes used to communicate pain risk and suggest intervention strategies to reduce that risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n The researchers found that while physicians often discuss post-surgical pain with family members, the information shared is sometimes not specific enough to each child. Additionally, the information may not be retained, especially when conveyed verbally in one sitting, and\/or when shared during a potentially stressful time while preparing for surgery.<\/p>\n\n\n Some study participants indicated that the option of an app-based pain risk communication tool would allow them to more easily refer to the information anytime they\u2019d like or share it with other family members. An app-based option would be an improvement over other more traditional methods. Verbal communication of pain risk can be forgotten and a paper-based pain risk communication tool may be lost or damaged.<\/p>\n\n\n This would replace the use of potentially unreliable or incomplete online resources, which caregivers often consult during the days and weeks leading up to their child\u2019s surgery.<\/p>– Dr. Matthias G\u00f6rges<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n \u201cFamily members would like pain risk information delivered before surgery as opposed to the day of their child\u2019s surgery,\u201d says Dr. G\u00f6rges. \u201cThis would replace the use of potentially unreliable or incomplete online resources, which caregivers often consult during the days and weeks leading up to their child\u2019s surgery.\u201d<\/p>\n\n The themes that emerged from the research have informed the design requirements for a pediatric post-surgical pain risk communication tool prototype.<\/p>\n\n \u201cWe want to make a pain risk communication tool that is accessible, accurately indicates the individual child\u2019s pain risk, includes discussion prompts for clinicians and families, and highlights personalized risk reduction strategies,\u201d says Dr. G\u00f6rges. \u201cFor example, we could say, \u2018there is a 38 per cent chance your child will experience moderate-to-severe post-surgical pain, and here are some actions you can take to increase their comfort\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n The researchers\u2019 next step is to recruit a large number of health-care workers and families to assist in the co-design and testing of the pediatric pain risk communication tool prototype.<\/p>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bcchr.ca\/dhil\/files\/2022\/11\/child-parents.jpg\")