“Working Together”: Perspectives of Healthcare Professionals in Providing Virtual Care to Youth with Chronic Pain during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Danielle Ruskin (), Julia Borsatto, Klaudia Szczech, Monique Tremblay, Lisa N. D’Alessandro, Giulia Mesaroli, Naiyi Sun, Catherine Munns and Jennifer Stinson
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Danielle Ruskin: Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
Julia Borsatto: Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
Klaudia Szczech: Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
Monique Tremblay: Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
Lisa N. D’Alessandro: Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
Giulia Mesaroli: Department of Rehabilitation Services, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
Naiyi Sun: Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
Catherine Munns: Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
Jennifer Stinson: Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1P8, Canada

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-17

Abstract: Background: The onset of the coronavirus disease in 2019 necessitated a rapid transition to virtual care for chronic pain treatment. Methods: A mixed methods design was implemented using qualitative interviews and quantitative satisfaction surveys. Interviews were conducted in February 2021 with a sample of healthcare professionals (HCPs; n = 6) who had provided multidisciplinary treatment (MDT) through an outpatient hospital pediatric chronic pain program. Satisfaction surveys were distributed to all MDT professionals employed by the clinic in April 2021 ( n = 13 of 20 eligible; 65% response rate). Participants represented medicine, rehabilitation, and mental health professionals. Results: Analysis of interviews generated five themes: (1) adaptation to virtual care, (2) benefits of virtual care, (3) limitations of virtual care, (4) shifting stance on virtual care over time, and (5) considerations for implementing virtual care. The satisfaction survey data revealed that respondents were able to effectively provide appropriate diagnoses, recommendations, and/or care plans for pediatric chronic pain via virtual care ( n = 12, 92.3%). Detailed survey responses are presented by discipline. Conclusions: This study provides a rich exploration of HCPs’ experiences in providing MDT for pediatric chronic pain within a virtual care model. The current results may contribute to the future development of guidelines for virtual care delivery with pediatric chronic pain populations.

Keywords: virtual care; pediatric chronic pain; multidisciplinary treatment; mixed methods analysis; healthcare professional perspectives (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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