Children with cancer experience pain 鈥� often severe and prolonged 鈥� over the course of their disease and treatment.
鈥淯nfortunately, we know that children with cancer don鈥檛 always receive the best evidence-based pain care possible,鈥� says Dr. Christine Chambers, Canada Research Chair in Children鈥檚 Pain and professor in Dalhousie鈥檚 departments of Pediatrics and Psychology & Neuroscience. 鈥淏ut when parents have access to the right information, they can serve as powerful advocates and help improve their children's pain treatment.鈥�
In an effort to bring the best research evidence about kids鈥� cancer pain to moms and dads, the Halifax-based is partnering with the (CKN), North America鈥檚 most widely read online cancer education resource.
Launching the campaign
Over the next 12 months, the partnership will bring parents the best research evidence about pediatric cancer pain. The information will be shared through an integrated social media strategy called (#KidsCancerPain). The group, led by Dr. Chambers and Dr. Jennifer Stinson from SickKids in Toronto, will also study the reach of the campaign and its impact on parents.
鈥淭his work will bridge a critical knowledge-to-action gap in children鈥檚 cancer pain by harnessing the power and reach of social media to ensure evidence-based information gets to parents,鈥� says Dr. Chambers, also a clinical psychologist at the IWK Health Centre.
In general, efforts to improve pain management for children have primarily targeted health professionals, yet parents are key in helping their kids deal with pain symptoms.
鈥淥ur goal is to distill medical research into practical narratives 鈥� to increase parent awareness and use of evidence-based knowledge about children鈥檚 cancer pain,鈥� says Dr. Chambers. 鈥淭he partnership with the CKN is designed to improve quality of life for kids and families living with cancer.鈥�
The Making Cancer Less Painful for Kids project is funded by a research grant from the Canadian Cancer Society.