Bringing the Pain Pathway to the Community

 

PIUO Phase II is a multi-year study focused on implementing the Pain Pathway into community pediatric practices across British Columbia, Canada. Pediatricians and families across BC may participate in testing the usefulness of the Pain Pathway.

The Pain and Irritability of Unknown Origin (PIUO) Pathway was developed as a clinical Pathway to evaluate and manage unexplained pain and irritability for children with severe neurological impairments (SNI) who are unable to communicate ‘where it hurts’. Phase I of this project showed us that the Pathway can help streamline pain management for families. Now that we know the Pain Pathway is helpful, we want to know whether this tool can transfer from use in tertiary hospital research centres into the community. Can local pediatricians across British Columbia use it when they see patients with PIUO? Our goal is to create an approach to enhance the clinical care for all children with complex medical needs experiencing PIUO.

  • The Barriers and Fascilitators study included interviewing a dozen community pediatricians from across British Columbia to more fully understand what might help, or hinder, the implementation of a new clinical pathway in their community clinic.

    A study summary infographic gives more details into the methods of this study, the demographics of our participants, and a brief capture of what we learned.

  • Using the data gathered from the Barriers and Facilitators study and the Pain Pathway designed for Phase I, our team has put together education and training programs to share this clinical pathway with community pediatricians across British Columbia.

    We offer an opportunity for pediatricians to learn more about this complex population of children, and how to better support them and their families in their pain journey.

    Education and training opportunities are ongoing, both virtually and in-person across BC. Learn more here.

  • The final stage of the Phase II study is to fully implement the Pain Pathway in pediatric practices across British Columbia. This includes training pediatricians, and measuring how this training supports the use of the Pain Pathway. As well as looking at how well patients and their families are supported, the outcomes of patients moving through this pathway, and the role of a nurse in supporting both the pediatrician and family throughout.