Based on the findings of the research during our HRB ICE award, we will develop two educational tools. Activity A will involve the creation of a free video that explains how chronic pain impacts on children and their families. This activity is vital based on our new understanding of the numbers of primary school children who live with chronic pain (that is, pain that lasts for more than 3 months) and conversations we have had with children, parents, teachers and health professionals. We aim to raise awareness regarding effective ways to support children in participating fully in all aspects of their lives and enjoy a higher quality of life, despite their pain.
Activity B consists of the development of a free web-based app for health professionals calculating the risk of future pain-related disability. Research indicates that the presence of certain personal and social factors increase the risk of future disability in chronic pain. The app will allow physicians and their patients to work collaboratively in determining future risk of pain-related disability by rating the patient’s various problems with, for example, sleep, mobility, motivation, self-esteem, social activity, mood and close relationships. This is an important activity because it will provide physicians with: a way of making accurate judgments about patients’ future risk of disability; tailor treatment according to risk, opportunities to engage with practice cases that require such judgments without detriment to real patients; and will allow them to hone their skills through the provision of training in making such judgments.
