We have some exciting updates on the progress of our Comfort Kits program from our first partner hospital: the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital at New York Presbyterian Columbia Medical Center in New York City. First, to recall, we designed kits which contained toys, games, aromatherapy and other items to help ease the challenges of kids with long term stays in the hospital. This was based on my personal experience and inspired by a wonderful nurse who helped me when I had open heart surgery during the pandemic.
We did an initial fundraiser and that has delivered 80 boxes to date. The feedback from families has been very positive. Each distributed box involves a 25-45 minute introduction with psychoeducation/teaching on the contents. The contents are all evidence-based non-pharmacological items/techniques for targeting distress/discomfort, symptoms of pain, anxiety, insomnia, and nausea. The Comfort Box contents were presented to the FAC (Family Advisory Council), and members were surveyed about each item. A team of hospitalists, a pediatric attending, adolescent medicine and integrative medicine physician, an art psychotherapist, an integrative therapist, and a child life specialist were involved in overseeing and determining the contents’ efficacy. Booklets with integrative techniques (Acupressure, Tapping, Self-Hypnosis, and Mindful Breathing are printed in English and Spanish). They have an approved research study investigating the use and effectiveness of the Comfort Box for the symptoms mentioned above, including if the contents are used beyond the hospital stay. This is the second year that they have partnered with an MPH student from the Mailman School of Public Health, conducting a literature review on similar programs, creating the questionnaire, surveying study participants (patients and their caregivers), and coding the data. They have trained adolescent medicine fellows and other treatment team members in the box’s contents.
This past April, the Comfort Box was presented as a component of a multidisciplinary network poster at the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture conference*. Dr. Melanie Gold, integrative medicine and adolescent medicine physician and consultant on the Comfort Box Project, presented a Plenary and conducted two workshops where she shared the comfort box and educated attendees on its uses with 600+ physicians. Since, Dr. Gold has received several communications from providers nationwide who are interested in replicating the Comfort Box project. “Evolution and Expansion of Acupoint Therapies and Other Integrative Modalities at School-Based Health Centers and an Academic Tertiary Care Pediatric Hospital in New York City” presented at the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture Symposium; Addison, Texas. April 15, 2023. A component of the research study will be evaluating the need and, if applicable and there is interest, redesigning the box for other areas (i.e., Pediatric Emergency Department, Antepartum unit).
Given this success, we are pleased to announce that we are forming a 501c3 to continue to support and expand the Comfort Kit program. We are also conducting an interim fundraiser to sustain the program while we form the charity. Please consider a donation, the program is off to a great start making differences in kids lives.
* Lee J, Bifano SM, Bombacie M, Lakhany D, Steinberg D, Gangopadhyay M, Porter R, Stenglein S, Gold MA. Development of a Multidisciplinary Support Network to Support Hospitalized Pediatric Patients and Their Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic. American Academy of Medical Acupuncture Symposium; Addison, Texas. April 15, 2023.