Pain@Otago Panel Discussion: 'Pain in Children and Young People: What do we know?'

Date:  11 July, 
Time: 6 - 7.30pm, 
Venue: St David's Lecture Theatre or Online at https://otago.zoom.us/j/326254470

Persistent Pain in children and adolescence is a significant health burden on family and society. It interferes with participation in schooling, sport/leisure activities, and relationship with peers; potentially leading to social isolation and/or loneliness. Research shows that a significant proportion of adolescents report pain and the rates of pain rise steeply from childhood to adolescence.

There is a potential risk of developing chronic pain into adulthood. The range of factors that are linked to persistent pain in children and young people include bodily illness, family support, mental health, sleep and behavioural problems.

This panel discussion will highlight recent research in this area and discuss the best treatment approaches, encompassing the holistic experience of pain, for providing support to enhance function, despite having pain.

This panel session is proudly part of the New Zealand International Science Festival www.scifest.org.nz

Click here for further information and to register for the event

Programme

30 minutes involves short presentations (max 10 min) by the speakers followed by 45 minutes of discussion moderated by the chair.

• Musculoskeletal pain in children and teens: what we know? (Associate Professor Steve Kamper, Lead-paediatric pain theme in the Musculoskeletal Health Sydney research group, School of Public health, University of Sydney, Australia)
• Clinical services offered by the inter-disciplinary team, and the current challenges in care. (Dr Ross Drake, Director, acute and chronic paediatric pain service, Auckland Starship Hospital, Auckland.)
• Influencing sleep, physical activity and diet among children for optimal health outcomes(Professor Rachael Taylor, University of Otago and member of A better start- New Zealand national Science Challenges)
• Experiences and reflections of carers and young people living with chronic pain (written reflections will be moderated by the chair)
• Community services

Questions via Zoom will be moderated by the chair.