Our Activities

Now that you’ve visited our About Us page and know why SKIP is working to improve children’s pain management, learn what we’re doing to make a difference!

Identifying & Filling Gaps

SKIP connects with patients, caregivers, health professionals, administrators, and policy makers to understand pre-existing and pandemic-related needs, including vaccine pain and fear, and key issues around acute and chronic pain.

Barriers to evidence about children's pain

SKIP conducted a study to identify the shared and unique needs and barriers for children’s pain across three stakeholder groups: patient partners (patients, caregivers, and family members), knowledge users (i.e., health professionals, administrators, policymakers, educators), and researchers (including trainees). Our findings were shared at national and international pain conferences.

An emergent need for evidence-based information to manage vaccinations with confidence

SKIP responded quickly to emerging need for support navigating vaccination for children by organizing an up-to-date, bilingual resource sheet that provided information and links to more than 15 key evidence-based tools for managing needle pain and anxiety.

Needs Assessment

SKIP takes a user-informed approach to knowledge mobilization. A Needs Assessment Survey was launched to confirm the needs of knowledge users (including patients, caregivers, health professionals, administrators, and policy makers) and to organize current resources and evidence. SKIP ensures that the tools and resources we develop and promote are informed by stakeholders that will use this evidence.

Let’s SKIP: Call for Patient Partners

A Patient Partner is someone with lived experience of pain, including patients, caregivers, family, and friends. SKIP has a network of more than ninety patient partners, including patients and caregivers, and is always looking to connect with new partners to match network activities and opportunities.

Producing and Promoting Valuable Tools

In 2021-22 we produced 131 knowledge mobilization tools with a wide variety of focuses, that reached nearly 680,000 people! SKIP coordinated with many partners to get evidence into the hands of knowledge users.

Public review of Canada’s first National Standard for Pediatric Pain Management

Effective treatments for children’s pain aren’t consistently put into practice in Canadian health institutions. As a result, children suffer from undertreated and preventable pain that can lead to many immediate and long-term problems. In partnership with the Health Standards Organization, SKIP is working to ensure equitable access to the best available pain management practices for children. This year, we completed a public review phase of Canada’s first-ever National Standard for Pediatric Pain Management. Once approved, the Standard - set to be published in early 2023 - will apply to all hospitals in Canada that provide care to pediatric populations (birth to 19 years of age).

Indigenous-led resources for vaccine pain and needle fear

We collaborated to co-produce and promote Indigenous-led, culturally relevant resources to help Indigenous children and families feel safe when receiving a vaccine. These resources included illustrated vaccination stories like Little Reah, that were even featured on the Moment of Truth podcast.

Sharing tools on needle pain and anxiety for parents and caregivers

SKIP co-produced and mobilized tools on needle pain and anxiety for parents and caregivers via YMC.ca and a range of virtual platforms. Our tools reached more than 400,000 people in just 3 months!

Collaborating to promote evidence-based practices

SKIP engaged in knowledge mobilization activities including: 3 Spark Live webinars with Children’s Healthcare Canada; 2 Ask-Me-Anything events with The Rounds; 1 Conquering the Hurt conference with our Central Canada Hub; and 1 new online learning module (“Pediatric Pain in Low to Middle-Income Countries”) with our Central Canada Hub.

Immunizing Children with Confidence

Led by Children’s Healthcare Canada, SKIP was a key partner in building this evidence-based initiative to support parents, vaccine communicators and providers. Collaborative activities included: 8 webinars; a pop-up mini-conference; videos with Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, and an online resource hub.

Facilitating Institutional Change

SKIP is committed to helping Canadian healthcare institutions put evidence into practice to improve care for kids in pain. We’re working with a wide range of partners to connect with institutions across the country and facilitate the adoption of best practices.

Raising Awareness and Kickstarting Conversation

SKIP is increasing awareness and fostering a sense of urgency among the general public about children’s pain. We’re hosting and participating in events and media activities and generating engagement and dialogue across our digital platforms.

International media coverage on vaccine pain

Throughout the roll-out of vaccination for school-aged children, members of SKIP’s network participated in regional, national, and international media activities related to vaccine pain and fear. SKIP and its resources were featured in high-profile outlets including: The Globe & Mail, CBC Radio, CTV News, Global News, Radio-Canada, The Conversation Canada, The Washington Post, New York Times, Forbes and more.

#ItDoesntHaveToHurt

SKIP’s hashtag has increased in average monthly impressions from 2M to 4.7M over the past year, with participation increasing by 50%. Verified social media influencers continue to share SKIP’s content and use the #ItDoesntHaveToHurt hashtag to spread evidence-based messages about children’s pain to broader audiences. The Globe & Mail, CBC Radio, CTV News, Global News, Radio-Canada, The Conversation Canada, The Washington Post, New York Times, Forbes and more.

Raising awareness through public talks

SKIP delivers presentations and engages with health professionals, patients, caregivers, administrator, and policymakers at conferences and workshops, with partners including the Canadian Paediatric Society, Canadian Pain Society, Science Up First, National Kids & Vaccines Day, and the International Knowledge Translation Conference in Rehabilitation. In 2021-22 our presentations reached nearly 9,000 participants.

SKIP's Day on Parliament Hill

SKIP hosted a “Day on the Hill” to connect SKIP with various parliamentarians, and the SKIP team was welcomed and acknowledged in Senate in a speech made by Senator Colin Deacon. The event concluded with a reception in Senate that provided informal opportunities to engage around the topic of pain in children.

The Conversation Canada

SKIP has partnered with The Conversation Canada to co-produce and disseminate pediatric pain-related articles. The Conversation Canada is an independent source of news and views from the academic and research community, delivered directly to the public.

6 tips to prepare your child for easy COVID-19 testing
Fear of Needles: 5 simple ways to ease vaccination pan for your child and yourself
The power of parents: 3 ways you can reduce your baby’s pain during medical procedures

Launch Events

SKIP held four high-profile events in Halifax, Toronto, Ottawa, and Edmonton to launch our network. Hundreds of participants across the country attended these live events. Virtually, SKIP reached over eight million views on livestreams and the social media event hashtag #ItDoesntHaveToHurt trended locally, nationally, and internationally.

Anyone can be a champion for kids in pain!

Want to find out how? Get in touch.

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