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The International Association for the Study of Pain

An international survey of health professionals on shared decision-making practices for in-person versus virtual care for pediatric chronic pain -WD62

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Late-Breaking Poster Abstracts

Abstract Description

Institution: University of Calgary - Alberta, Canada

Pediatric chronic pain affects 20% of youth and is associated with decreased physical, social, academic, and emotional functioning, as well as continued pain in adulthood. During the COVID-19 pandemic, health services transitioned to virtual provision of treatment, the usage of which continues today. However, little research adequately compares the efficacy of virtual care to in-person treatment for pediatric chronic pain, and not all youth (e.g., those with limited technology access) can benefit from or access virtual care. Shared decision-making (SDM) is a collaborative approach that involves discussing treatment options and patient values, and engages youth, their caregivers, and health professionals toward treatment decisions. Importantly, SDM could improve outcomes of pediatric chronic pain. This study is part of a larger project that aims to promote engagement in SDM by creating a decision aid for patients, families, and health professionals regarding in-person versus virtual pediatric chronic pain management. To inform the development of the decision aid by examining current SDM practices for in-person versus virtual pediatric pain care, we electronically distributed surveys to 102 pediatric chronic pain clinics around the world. Ethics approval was obtained from the institutional research ethics board. Participants were health professionals who worked with youth experiencing chronic pain, and reported on demographic information, current SDM practices, influential factors in deciding between in-person versus virtual care, and evaluations of in-person versus virtual care treatment decisions. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyze quantitative and qualitative responses, respectively. The survey opened on June 5, 2023 and 37 clinics (36%) have responded to date. Preliminary data showed that virtual care constituted less than 25% of overall pediatric chronic pain treatment. Almost a third (32%) of health professionals reported that families played the largest role (i.e., 76 to 100%) in treatment decisions for in-person versus virtual pediatric pain management. New referrals, patient values and preferences, and type of care were most consistently ranked within the top 3 factors that influence treatment decision-making. Respondents also qualitatively described patient factors, new referrals, and diagnostic considerations as most influential in treatment decisions, while evidence on virtual care was less influential. Most clinics (81%) did not report evaluating their treatment decisions or outcomes thereof for in-person versus virtual care. 

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Authors

Prabjit Ajrawat - Patient and Family Partner (Ontario, Canada) , Ms. Zahra Alidina - Patient and Family Partner (Ontario, Canada) , Gillian Backlin - Patient and Family Partner (British Columbia, Canada) , Javed Gill - Patient and Family Partner (British Columbia, Canada) , Ms. Mica Marbil - University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada) , Ms. Jenna Jessa - University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada) , Mr. Justin Bonhomme - University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada) , Tracy Wasylak - Alberta Health Services (Alberta, Canada) , Isabel Jordan - Patient and Family Partner (British Columbia, Canada) , Vina Mohabir - The Hospital for Sick Children (Ontario, Canada) , Dr. Sabine Soltani - University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada) , Dr. Fiona Campbell - The Hospital for Sick Children (Ontario, Canada) , Dr. Nivez Rasic - University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada) , Dr. Katherine Wynne-Edwards - Patient and Family Partner (Alberta, Canada) , Dr. Krista Baerg - University of Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan, Canada) , Dr. Diane Lorenzetti - University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada) , Ms. Nicole MacKenzie - Dalhousie University (Nova Scotia, Canada) , Dr. Melanie Noel - University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada) , Dr. Tim Oberlander - University of British Columbia (British Columbia, Canada) , Dr. Jennifer Stinson - The Hospital for Sick Children (Ontario, Canada) , Dr. Karine Toupin-April - University of Ottawa (Ontario, Canada) , Dr. Fiona Webster - Western University (Ontario, Canada) , Dr. Kathryn Birnie - University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada)

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