Digi-PEPP

The aim of the research project is to evaluate the effectiveness of digital solutions for assessment and treatment of pain and its related emotions in pediatric patients and their parents. The research project includes three parts: (1) Monitoring and evaluation of pain in pediatric patients using the multimodal methods, (2) Treatment of pain and its related emotions in pediatric patients, and (3) Treatment of emotions in parents whose child is hospitalized. In order to develop pain assessment, we utilize new multimodal methods (e.g. NIRS, EMG) to identify the pain indicators of critically ill children who are unable to communicate their pain, and develop the algorithms at the same time. The interventions, for example, will focus on the effectiveness of (a) multisensorial nature-based intervention for children undergoing venous blood sampling, (b) “nucu” intervention including mother’s recorded heartbeat and feeling its vibration in infants requiring intensive care, and (c) mobile intervention based on trauma-informed care for parents who has hospitalized child. The effectiveness of the above interventions is evaluated through RCT or cross over study designs using valid measurements.