Project

The added value of pain science education for childhood cancer survivors: the PANACEA study

Acronym
PANACEA
Code
EXT/ONZ/000216
Duration
01 October 2023 → 30 September 2026
Research disciplines
  • Medical and health sciences
    • Rehabilitation sciences not elsewhere classified
Keywords
pain science education childhood cancer survivors co-creation
 
Project description

Child cancer survivors represent a unique and growing group of young people in need of long-term clinical support. According to studies, 11-44% of childhood cancer survivors experience chronic pain, which negatively affects many biopsychosocial outcomes of these children and their families and creates a high financial burden for their families and society. A non-pharmacological approach to pain management that is increasingly being researched and implemented in children is pain education; an educational strategy that promotes patients' understanding of the biopsychosocial mechanisms of pain. Preliminary evidence on the effectiveness of pain education in children with and without chronic (non-cancer) pain shows beneficial effects on several pain-related outcomes. Beyond preliminary conceptual work, there is no published research on the adaptation and effectiveness of pain education for pediatric cancer survivors. Because pain education offers a promising approach to redefine pain and its impact on the daily lives of these children, in this innovative project we propose to investigate the added value on pain-related psychosocial and physical outcomes of a pain education intervention, delivered via co -creation will be achieved, in addition to the usual care for childhood cancer survivors (8-12 years). The project proceeds in 2 phases, using the Intervention Mapping Protocol as a guideline; 1) co-creating the pain education intervention with childhood cancer survivors, their parents, and clinicians working in pediatric oncology, and 2) implementing and evaluating the pain education intervention in childhood cancer survivors through a randomized controlled pilot study with 6 months follow-up. The hypothesis for this project is that the addition of pain education to usual care will improve pain-related outcomes in childhood cancer survivors and that this project will contribute to more specialized care for childhood cancer survivors.