The Meg Foundation Launches Interactive Agent to Help Children Manage Anxiety and Pain Associated with Needle Injections

Just in time for flu season, today The Meg Foundation launched an interactive tool to help reduce children’s anxiety and pain associated with needle pokes. Developed by top experts in pediatric pain management, driven by research and supported by best practice guidelines of nearly every pediatric medical organization in the world, this new chatbot, named SuperMeg, facilitates a conversation with the child and then generates a customized plan to help manage anxiety and pain in preparation for and during medical procedures. SuperMeg empowers children to have more control over their feelings, their body and their experience.
 
According to The World Health Organization, many children experience significant fear associated with needle pokes that can lead to a delay or a complete avoidance in obtaining the healthcare they need throughout their lifetime. In response, SuperMeg interacts with children to provide information, skills and tools they and their parents need to feel confident and comfortable when facing needle injections.
 
“The tears and freak outs around needle pokes mean a lot more than a few difficult minutes at the doctor’s office. It can impact the way children feel about healthcare into adulthood and influence how they care for themselves for their entire lives,” said Dr. Jody Thomas, founder and executive director of The Meg Foundation. “A few simple and effective pain management strategies can empower kids to feel powerful and in control, and this can make all the difference in how they approach medical visits.”
 
SuperMeg is easily accessible on any personal device or computer, features a friendly face, colorful graphics and easy-to-understand text. Once the child completes their conversation with SuperMeg, their customized plan is emailed to the parent. Additionally, The Meg Foundation sends parents supplemental information, resources and tools to help them advocate for their child at the doctor’s office or hospital. These materials have been shown to result in a more positive experience for both parent and child. To access SuperMeg, visit https://www.megfoundationforpain.org/supermeg.
 
About The Meg Foundation
The Meg Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering families by providing access to pain management strategies, skills and support that are needed to prevent and reduce pain in children. As a thought leader in pediatric pain management, The Meg Foundation is working to create a more comfortable future where pediatric healthcare is free of unnecessary suffering. By bringing together international experts on pediatric pain with the top minds in technology, design and user experience, The Meg Foundation is helping families transform children’s experiences in healthcare. For more information, visit https://www.megfoundationforpain.org/.
 

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