Pediatric Pain Awareness Month and Pain Awareness Symposium
The project team and Dr. Mohammed Janahi, Chairman of Pediatrics, officially open the launch of Pain Awareness Month
One of the main objectives of the Pediatric Pain Management Task Force is to provide inter-disciplinary education and raise awareness regarding the concept of pediatric pain management for HMC Staff and the community at large. This was achieved through the Pediatric Pain Awareness Month held throughout November 2012. The campaign to promote the Pediatric Pain Awareness Month used a marketing strategy that was led by the HMC/SickKids International Partnership project team. Various forms of media were used, including corporate designed posters, internet website announcements, press releases and television interviews, which attracted national public attention to the various aspects of pediatric pain assessment and treatment. Throughout November, education was provided to 242 inter-professional staff – 159 nurses, 41 allied health professionals, and 42 physicians – all of whom provide care to children at HMC.
The Pain Awareness Month was structured to lead up to the 1st Pediatric Awareness Week which was held from 25 to 28 November, 2012. This was the first ever Pediatric Pain Awareness Week in the Gulf region. There were two booths organized at Hamad General Hospital and Rumailah Hospital. Education regarding pain management strategies was delivered by the HMC Pediatric Pain Task Force members and other inter-professional staff, with support from the SickKids Pain Team. Information was delivered to patients and families, in English and Arabic, and each visitor received the HMC Pediatric Pain Patient Handbook and a gift bag which contained items that could be used for distraction interventions during painful procedures. The public information booths were attended by over 1,000 patients and families. This was the first step to demonstrated success of the Pain Task Force.
The 1st Pediatric Pain Awareness Symposium was held on Thursday, 29 November, 2012. The symposium was a whole day event which featured a known local motivational speaker introducing the theme of pediatric pain management, guest lecturers from SickKids, and HMC speakers on various aspects related to pain management in infants, children and adolescents. The Hajar Auditorium was filled to capacity with over 300 attendees present, demonstrating the interest and enthusiasm of all health care providers at HMC in the pursuit to enhance the current approach to assessing and treating pain in children.
As part of a plan to sustain these practices, a specialized education program has been provided to nursing staff to lead practice change in nursing pain assessment and management. There are currently 33 Nursing Pain Champions acting as advocates for improved pediatric pain management at HMC in this role.
Over the coming year, the HMC-SickKids Partnership will continue to support the Pain Task Force to deliver education, clinical mentorship. The program will be offered in May and November 2013, open to registration for all HMC health care professionals that work with children. The Pain Task Force will also be hosting the 2nd Annual Pediatric Pain Awareness Week from 24 to 28 November, 2013 which will feature an expanded public awareness campaign and educational effort for children and their families. Once again, these achievements and additional education will be celebrated at the 2nd Annual Pediatric Pain Symposium in November 2013. We look forward to another year of success in building champions in pediatric pain management.
