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Quantitative Sensory Testing in Pediatric Pain Research: Methodology, Current Applications and Future Directions
Workshop
Session Description
Quantitative sensory testing (QST) is increasingly used in pediatric pain research to inform understanding of pain outcomes and the transition from acute to chronic pain. The focus of this workshop is to: present brief QST protocols used in pediatric pain samples, discuss feasibility and methodological issues, and provide hands-on training in QST methods. As chair, Dr. Holley will provide a brief overview and introduce learning objectives. Next, presenters Drs. Li and Sieberg will present QST protocols used in ongoing pediatric pain research studies introducing paradigms of temporal summation of pain, conditioned pain modulation, and offset analgesia. They will present data on feasibility and methodology and include considerations for selecting stimulation modality (e.g., thermal, mechanical) and identifying body locations for pain threshold and tolerance tasks. Following theses presentations, a hands-on workshop will demonstrate QST methodologies including measurement of temporal summation, heat pain thresholds, and mechanical pain thresholds at multiple body sites. The workshop will conclude with a panel discussion (moderated by session chair Amy Holley PhD) which will: address key methodological controversies in QST assessment in pediatric pain samples, discuss challenges faced in conducting QST studies, and promising future directions for using QST to advance pediatric pain research.