Specifically, the task force aims to increase awareness and improve attitudes towards pediatric pain management within HMC and on a national level. Due to the large and over-arching priorities of the task force, four subgroups have been created to ensure each area is able to progress well. The first subgroup was created to support the implementation of a consistent policy for pediatric pain management across HMC. An amendment to the HMC Policy for Pain Screening, Assessment and Management has been developed to include best practice guidelines for the interdisciplinary care of infants, children and adolescents. It is proposed that the revised pain policies and procedures will be expanded to reflect current evidence and support clinical care.
A second subgroup was created to focus on specialized education and training regarding pain assessment and management for all HMC healthcare staff working with children. As part of the HMC/SKI Partnership, education through clinical teaching was initiated using an inter-disciplinary team approach. Experts from the Hospital for Sick Children-Toronto collaborated with HMC Pain Services and the PICU to conduct pain rounds for pediatric patients. This is a practice that continues to be piloted in the PICU. An educational needs assessment was completed to inform the curriculum and framework for inter-professional pediatric pain education at HMC. This enabled further development of the topics to be covered in the Pediatric Pain Education Program and the various modalities that will be used for training in the education program that will be offered in November 2012.
Part and parcel of providing knowledge and training in conducting pain assessment and pain management for all HMC healthcare staff working with children, is the work done by the third subgroup. Their aim is to identify, support, and provide specialized training for nurses eager to become expert resources of pediatric pain management within their clinical area, also known as ‘Nursing Pain Champions’. To date, eight ‘Nursing Pain Champions’ have started the specialized training from SickKids Nursing Pain Experts in April 2012. The end goal is that every unit across HMC, which provides care to pediatric patient, will have two ‘Nursing Pain Champions’ and one trained charge nurse. A similar model has been proposed to enhance pain assessment management within the Department of Pediatrics and Department of Pediatric Surgery.
The last subgroup leads the initiatives to increase public awareness and knowledge of pediatric pain management. A promotional campaign has been planned leading up to the 1st Pediatric Pain Awareness Month in November 2012. This event will cater to HMC health-care professionals who care for infants, children and adolescents, as well as children and families across Qatar, who visit HMC inpatient and outpatient clinical areas. As part of the event, an education program will be offered, complimentary to the broader pediatric pain management system for HMC starting in November 2012. It will be an inter-professional course focused on the assessment and management of pain in pediatric patients and facilitated by SickKids pain experts and workshops co-led with the Pain Task Force. To wrap up the Pain Awareness Month, a symposium with be held on 29 November, 2012, which will feature guest lecturers from SickKids and HMC on improving pain management for infants, children and adolescents. This event will also celebrate HMCs’ ‘Pediatric Pain Champions’. The task force is really looking forward to the Event as it is a culmination of all their hard work during the past year and it promises to be a great day.
