The problem
Each year in England approximately 86,000 children and young people under 18 years of age are transported by ambulance to emergency departments with acute pain. Acute pain is pain lasting less than 12 weeks. The acute pain may have been caused by injuries such as wounds, burns or broken bones, or by illnesses such as tummy pain.
Paramedics and other ambulance clinicians aim to reduce the pain at the scene and during hospital transport. Treating pain in children and young people attended by ambulance is very challenging and research studies have shown that around 60% do not have their pain treated effectively. Without effective pain treatment, children and young people may suffer adverse consequences such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
The solution
The aim of this PANDA study is to explore the experiences of children and young people who have been attended by ambulance for a painful condition, along with their parents/carers and ambulance clinicians and to develop and test a new method to improve pain management.
What will you be asked to do?
You will first be asked to provide consent to participate in the study. You can provide consent electronically or we can send you a paper consent form to sign and return to us.
You will then need to decide how you would prefer to share your experience with us, this could be in an interview, in a diary, or both.
Are you eligible to take part?
We would like to understand the experiences of children and young people aged 4-17 years who needed an ambulance to help with their pain, their parents and carers, and ambulance clinicians. You can participate if you are a:
Young person:
- aged 16 or 17 years, and
- have recently suffered acute pain in England during the last 12 months that required an ambulance.
Parent/carer:
- whose child or young person under 18 years of age has recently experienced acute pain in England during the last 12 months that required an ambulance.
Ambulance clinician:
- who has recent experience of managing acute pain in children and young people under 18 years of age in the last 12 months,
- has clinical responsibility for the management of children and young people, and
- is employed by an English NHS ambulance service.
Unfortunately, you are unable participate if you are a:
- Young person aged 16-17 years who has sustained potentially life-threatening injuries or illnesses, for example major trauma (such as limb loss or significant burns) or cardiac arrest.
- This is because the risk of emotional distress outweighs the potential benefits of participating in this study. A future study will need to be set up to explore the experience of young people who have sustained potentially life-threatening injuries or illnesses.
- Parent/carer aged <16 years.
Will you be paid for taking part?
You will receive a £20 gift voucher to compensate you for participating in this study.
What are the possible benefits / risks of taking part?
Your participation in this study will help us to improve the future care of children and young people who need an ambulance when they are in pain.
We do not anticipate any significant risks of taking part. Recalling events that involve children and young people suffering acute pain may cause emotional upset. If emotional distress occurs during the interview, it would be paused for a short break. If after the short break there is concern about restarting, the data collection will stop, and participation will end.
If you would like to find out more about the PANDA Study and participate, please contact us: https://forms.office.com/e/EewMsyyL3a
Contact details.
Dr Gregory Whitley PhD
Clinical Audit and Research Unit, Lincolnshire Divisional Headquarters, East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Cross O’Cliff Court, Bracebridge Heath, Lincoln, LN4 2HL.
Email: researchteam@emas.nhs.uk
Work Mobile: 07385 085534