Prototypes for paediatric pain assessment
This project is positioned in the context of Admissions to the Emergency Room, in that initial stage or touchpoint when the nurse asks a child about how much pain they have. The project team are working with the Sunshine Coast University Hospital to develop an interactive device for children to use to indicate their pain levels.
Who was involved?
Dr Scott Schofield from the Sunshine Coast University Hospital has been the champion of this project. From the QUT Design Lab, the project has been led by Associate Professor Marianella Chamorro-Koc, with Dr Rafael Gomez, and Research Assistants Erina Wannenburg and James Dwyer.
What was the process?
Following QUT Ethics approval (#1900001142), the team conducted interviews and photovoice activities to understand the problem from the clinician’s perspective. Analysis of these artefacts resulted in a design sprint to identify the need for a device that employs technology to (1) identify pain level, (2) help identify the child’s level of distress or anxiety, and (3) provide visual cues to enable rapport.
What were the outcomes?
A three-functionality device has been prototyped and is ready for further co-design through focus groups and co-discovery sessions with clinicians and children. Following revisions informed by these processes, a final prototype can be developed.
