Pain Caregiver Resource (PainCaRe)

Building mHealth Parent Capacity to Manage Pain in Young Children With Cancer: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Pain is a problem for children with cancer, especially when they are outside of the hospital setting. Younger children with cancer are particularly vulnerable to undermanaged pain because of their inability to self-report pain and their reliance on parents for treatment. One method to help these children to get the best care possible is through the use of smartphone-based mHealth solutions. Smartphone apps can provide treatment advice to patients experiencing pain in real-time and in any environment. This research will use a phased and user-centered approach with family caregivers to co-design and co-evaluate the new cancer Pain Caregiver Resource (PainCaRe) app to achieve the following aims: (1) high-fidelity software development and usability refinement; (2) evaluation of trial feasibility and preliminary effectiveness in a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT); and (3) systematic analysis of caregiver app usage patterns to refine PainCaRe for optimal engagement prior to a future RCT.

1. Be the primary caregiver, or person assuming the majority of care activities, for a child aged 2-11 years undergoing cancer treatment and experiencing above mild pain (≥3/10) in the week preceding study enrolment (pain measured by self or caregiver proxy using a validated numerical 11-point rating scale).
2. Be able to speak and read English.