{"id":1387,"date":"2018-03-08T20:53:46","date_gmt":"2018-03-08T19:53:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/adc\/?p=1387"},"modified":"2018-03-09T13:58:00","modified_gmt":"2018-03-09T12:58:00","slug":"guest-blog-5-tips-parents-caregivers-can-use-to-help-make-cancer-less-painful-for-kids-kidscancerpain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/adc\/2018\/03\/08\/guest-blog-5-tips-parents-caregivers-can-use-to-help-make-cancer-less-painful-for-kids-kidscancerpain\/","title":{"rendered":"Guest Blog: 5 Tips Parents\/Caregivers Can Use to Help Make Cancer Less Painful for Kids: #KidsCancerPain"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Pain is one of the most distressing symptoms children living with cancer experience. It can be caused by the disease, procedures and side effects of medication. Pain can be pervasive and impact every part of a child with cancer\u2019s life. Managing this pain has been shown to have a profound impact on a child\u2019s health and recovery. Research has found strategies and medications that parents\/caregivers can use to help do this for children with cancer. But …<\/p>\n

Did you know that it takes, on average, 17 years for research to be translated into practice?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t have to be that way! Healthcare professionals have the ability to empower parents\/caregivers to help with the management their child\u2019s cancer-related pain.<\/p>\n

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Over the past year, I have helped develop the digital communication strategy for a project based out of the IWK Health Centre and SickKids Hospital that worked to make cancer less painful for kids by getting information about kids\u2019 cancer pain into the hands of those who can use it most: parents and caregivers of children with cancer. The #KidsCancerPain<\/a> team, led by Dr. Christine Chambers<\/a> (IWK Health Centre) and Dr. Jen Stinson<\/a> (SickKids Hospital), in partnership with the Cancer Knowledge Network, worked together to close this knowledge to action gap by bringing the best science on children\u2019s cancer pain directly to parents and caregivers over social media through blog posts, short videos, twitter chats, social media images and more. The project, funded by a research grant from the Canadian Cancer Society, involved patient advocates, clinicians, a panel of cancer-experienced parents and researchers, including Dalhousie University PhD trainee Perri Tutelman<\/a> and Research Associate, Dr. Jennifer Parker<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The goal of the campaign was to increase parent\/caregiver awareness and use of strategies, that we know from research, help to control children\u2019s cancer-related pain. From the social media campaign, which was based on cutting-edge research evidence, here are the\u00a05 top tips <\/strong>that parents\/caregivers can use to help make cancer less painful for kids:<\/p>\n

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  1. Needle-based procedures can be unpleasant, scary and painful. Anesthetic patches and creams like EMLA\u2122, Maxilene\u2122 and Ametop\u2122 can help! <\/strong>In order to be effective, these products have to be applied 30-60 minutes before the painful procedure. Parents\/caregivers can purchase these over-the-counter at most pharmacies. More tips for needle-based procedures can be found in this blog: https:\/\/cancerkn.com\/tips-manage-childs-needle-pain\/<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    1. Acting calm helps kids be calm. <\/strong>How a parent or caregiver behaves during a procedure can influence the child\u2019s level of distress. When parents feel confident in helping their child stay calm during painful procedures, children are less anxious. http:\/\/itdoesnthavetohurt.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/KCP-SMI_ActingCalm_FINAL.jpg<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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      1. When you know how much pain the child has, you are better able to help.<\/strong> Pain assessment tools make it easier. Depending on the child\u2019s age and verbal abilities, there are different tools and scales that can be used. There are additionally three ways that can help determine if a child is in pain, in order of reliability:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n