The cold pressor task: is it an ethically acceptable pain research method in children?

Area of Science:

• Pediatric pain research
• Experimental pain induction
• Child psychology

Background:

• The cold pressor task (CPT) is a common method for inducing experimental pain.
• Ethical considerations arise from non-therapeutic pain induction in pediatric populations.
• Understanding participant and researcher perspectives is crucial for ethical research conduct.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore ethical challenges associated with using the CPT in pediatric research.
• To assess the acceptability of the CPT from the viewpoint of researchers, children, and parents.
• To evaluate the safety and participant experience of CPT in children.

Main Methods:

• Study 1 involved surveying 16 researchers on their experiences with CPT ethical approval and usage in pediatric studies.
• Study 2 surveyed 175 children and 194 parents about their experiences participating in CPT research.
• Data collection focused on ethical approval processes, adverse events, and overall participant satisfaction.

Main Results:

• Full ethics board review was a standard requirement for CPT studies.
• Adverse events reported during CPT were infrequent and temporary.
• A significant majority of researchers, children, and parents found their experiences with the CPT to be positive.

Conclusions:

• The cold pressor task is considered an acceptable research methodology by researchers, children, and parents.
• Ethical application of the CPT in pediatric research is feasible with the implementation of appropriate safeguards.
• The findings support the continued ethical use of CPT in studies involving children.