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COVID-19 Pandemic Impact and Response in Canadian Pediatric Chronic Pain Care: A National Survey of Medical Directors and Pain Professionals.

ABSTRACT: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presents one of the greatest threats to pediatric pain care seen in generations. Due to public health restrictions, many pediatric pain clinics halted in-person appointments, delaying and disrupting access to care. There is no existing research on the impacts of COVID-19 on pediatric chronic pain care in Canada or the challenges experienced by health care professionals and pain clinics. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on Canadian pediatric chronic pain care by documenting how health care professionals provided care during the first six months of the pandemic. Methods: Two Canadian online cross-sectional surveys were conducted: one among Canadian pediatric pain clinic directors (Study 1) and another among multidisciplinary pediatric pain health care professionals (Study 2). Results: Responses from 13/13 Canadian pediatric pain clinics/rehabilitation programs indicated that all clinics provided virtual care during the pandemic. No significant changes were reported on the frequency of appointment requests. Most clinics reported no perceived change in patient pain levels (n = 9/13, 69%) or occurrence of pain flares (n = 10/13, 77%). Results from 151 individual health care professionals indicated that the majority (90%) of non-emergency department respondents were providing virtual care. The main challenges of virtual care included technological barriers, financial concerns, infrastructure and logistics, privacy, and clinical challenges. Conclusions: This study documented the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric chronic pain care in Canada and highlighted the rapid shift to using virtual solutions. Simultaneously, respondents outlined current challenges and potential solutions to consider in the development of virtual care guidelines and policy in Canada.

SUBMITTER: Killackey T

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8253119 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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COVID-19 Pandemic Impact and Response in Canadian Pediatric Chronic Pain Care: A National Survey of Medical Directors and Pain Professionals.

Killackey Tieghan T Noel Melanie M Birnie Kathryn A KA Choinière Manon M Pagé M Gabrielle MG Dassieu Lise L Lacasse Anaïs A Lalloo Chitra C Brennenstuhl Sarah S Poulin Patricia P Ingelmo Pablo P Ali Samina S Battaglia Marco M Campbell Fiona F Smith Andrew A Harris Lauren L Mohabir Vina V Benayon Myles M Jordan Isabel I Marianayagam Justina J Stinson Jennifer J

Canadian journal of pain = Revue canadienne de la douleur 20210630 1

<b>Background</b>: The COVID-19 pandemic presents one of the greatest threats to pediatric pain care seen in generations. Due to public health restrictions, many pediatric pain clinics halted in-person appointments, delaying and disrupting access to care. There is no existing research on the impacts of COVID-19 on pediatric chronic pain care in Canada or the challenges experienced by health care professionals and pain clinics. <b>Aims</b>: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of COVI ...[more]

PMID: 34263096

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Dataset Information

COVID-19 Pandemic Impact and Response in Canadian Pediatric Chronic Pain Care: A National Survey of Medical Directors and Pain Professionals.

Publications

COVID-19 Pandemic Impact and Response in Canadian Pediatric Chronic Pain Care: A National Survey of Medical Directors and Pain Professionals.

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