Grant: Doctoral Research Award: CGS-D to Honour Nelson Mandela

WHY IS THIS STUDY BEING DONE? Acute pain after surgery is an expected and distressing outcome for children and their parents; however, when this pain persists, the consequences can be devastating, such as longer recovery time, changes to normal childhood development, greater family stress, and increased health care costs. Unfortunately, approximately 20% of children undergoing major surgery go on to have chronic pain. It is critical that we identify the factors involved in the development of pediatric chronic post-surgical pain in order to prevent chronic pain and the associated detrimental outcomes. HOW IS THE STUDY BEING DONE? This research study will follow children undergoing major surgery beginning a week before surgery and for 12-months after. While in hospital, children will answer questions on their pain and mental health, and wear a device to measure daily activity. Questions on pain and mental health will be repeated 6 and 12 months after surgery. The information collected will be analyzed to identify which children develop chronic pain and to understand why. HOW WILL THE RESULTS IMPACT PATIENTS? It is essential to identify children who are at risk for chronic pain after major surgery in order to develop ways to prevent the transition from acute to chronic pain among these children and to manage it when it can't be prevented. Ultimately this will help to improve pediatric surgical outcomes. It will also reduce the overall economic burden it causes for their family and society.