Background Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare genetic condition that can lead to frequent debilitating bone fractures. Family caregivers of children with OI face unique challenges in providing care, which may include limited access to information about the condition, feelings of distress, and experiences of social isolation. Internet-based technologies (IBTs) have been useful for supporting other types of caregivers. However, the views of OI caregivers on IBTs have not been explored. Objective This study aimed to explore the views of OI caregivers on the uses of IBTs to support them in caring for their children with OI. Methods A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Caregivers of children with OI were recruited at a pediatric hospital in Montreal, Canada. Interviews were used to explore each caregiver’s views on the applicability of IBTs in supporting their caregiving needs. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed. Results A total of 18 caregivers participated. The caregivers shared that IBTs were useful for facilitating the following activities: daily activities of caregiving (such as providing physical care, supporting relationships, supporting self-care and hope, and managing the logistics of caregiving), OI medical information seeking, and OI social networking. However, they also revealed concerns about the health consequences of IBT use and the quality of IBT content. Concerns regarding IBTs varied somewhat with caregivers’ geographies. Caregivers offered suggestions and strategies for how IBTs can be optimized for caregiving. Conclusions Family caregivers of children with OI face unique challenges in providing care, which may include lacking access to information about the rare condition and feeling socially isolated. OI caregivers use IBTs to overcome some of these challenges and to support their specific caregiving needs. These findings contribute to the paucity of knowledge by offering varied IBT strategies to support caregiving activities, which may be beneficial for other caregivers. Participants’ suggestions for IBT services can inform the development of new resources for OI caregivers and potentially for other caregivers of children living with rare conditions.

Background: Pain is a common symptom of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) among children and adolescents. However, little is currently known of the pain experiences of adults with OI. Aims: The aims of this study were to critically appraise the studies assessing OI pain, to synthesize the pain experiences of adults with OI, and to compare the adult OI pain experiences to childhood. Methods: An integrative review was conducted. Five electronic bibliographic databases were searched. Published quantitative, qualitative, and/or mixed-method studies assessing pain in adults with OI were screened, reviewed, and appraised. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate quality scores, summarize sample characteristics, and synthesize findings. Extracted pain data were analyzed using constant comparison and consolidated into meaningful themes. Results: From the 832 titles identified, 14 studies including seven case reports met the inclusion criteria. Study appraisal scores ranged from low to moderate using the Quality Assessment Tool and the Case Report Checklist. The majority of studies assessed pain as a secondary outcome (71.4%) using well-established tools (64.2%). Adults with OI experience pain of mild to moderate intensity, which may interfere with completion of daily activities. Two themes emerged from analysis of the data: mild chronic pain persists despite surgical, pharmacological, or nonpharmacological interventions and past fractures and structural deformities may trigger onset of chronic pain in adulthood. Conclusion: Limited attention has been given to exploring the pain experience of adults diagnosed with OI. Pain is a long-term symptom of OI requiring further in-depth investigation to better understand and manage pain in adults with OI. RÉSUMÉ Contexte: La douleur est un symptôme commun de l'ostéogenèse imparfaite (OI) chez les enfants et les adolescents. Toutefois, on sait actuellement peu de choses au sujet de la douleur ressentie par les adultes atteints d'OI. But: Effectuer une appréciation critique des études évaluant la douleur occasionnée par l'OI, faire la synthèse de l'information sur la douleur ressentie par les adultes atteints d'OI et comparer la douleur ressentie à l'âge adulte à celle ressentie pendant l'enfance. Méthodes: Un examen par intégration a été mené. Des recherches ont été effectuées dans cinq bases de données bibliographiques électroniques. Les études quantitatives, qualitatives ou mixtes publiées qui évaluaient la douleur chez les adultes atteints d'OI ont été sélectionnées, examinées et évaluées. Des statistiques descriptives ont été utilisées pour calculer leur score de qualité, résumer les caractéristiques de leur échantillon et synthétiser leurs conclusions. Les données sur la douleur qui avaient été extraites ont été analysées à l'aide de la méthode de la comparaison constante et regroupées en thèmes significatifs. Résultats: Parmi les 832 titres recensés, 14 études comprenant sept rapports de cas répondaient aux critères d'inclusion. Au moment de les évaluer, les études ont obtenu...

Aims To examine the efficacy of an immersive virtual reality distraction compared with an active non‐immersive distraction, such as video games on a tablet, for pain and anxiety management and memory of pain and anxiety in children requiring percutaneous bone pins and/or suture removal procedures. Design Three‐centre randomized clinical trial using a parallel design with two groups: experimental and control. Methods Study to take place in the orthopaedic department of three children hospital of the Montreal region starting in 2019. Children, from 7–17 years old, requiring bone pins and/or suture removal procedures will be recruited. The intervention group (N = 94) will receive a virtual reality game (Dreamland), whereas the control group (N = 94) will receive a tablet with video games. The primary outcomes will be both the mean self‐reported pain score measured by the Numerical Rating Scale and mean anxiety score, measured by the Child Fear Scale. Recalls of pain and anxiety will be measured 1 week after the procedure using the same scales. We aim to recruit 188 children to achieve a power of 80% with a significance level (alpha) of 5%. Discussion While multiple pharmacological methods have previously been tested for children, no studies have evaluated the impact of immersive virtual reality distraction for pain and anxiety management in the orthopaedic setting. Impact Improved pain management can be achieved using virtual reality during medical procedures for children. This method is innovative, non‐pharmacological, adapted to the hospital setting, and user‐friendly. Trial Registration NCT03680625, registered on clinicaltrials.gov.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare genetic disorder of the bones caused by a mutation in Type I collagen genes. As adults with OI are aging, medical concerns secondary to OI may arise. This integrative review sought to review, appraise, and synthesize the clinical manifestations faced by adults with OI. Four electronic bibliographic databases were searched. Published quantitative, qualitative, and mixed‐methods studies, as well as case reports from 2000 to March 2019, addressing a clinical manifestation in adulthood, were reviewed. Eligible studies and case reports were subsequently appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool and Case Report Checklist, respectively. Twenty quantitative studies and 88 case reports were included for review regardless of the varying methodological quality score. These studies collectively included 2,510 adults with different OI types. Several clinical manifestations were studied, and included: hearing loss, cardiac diseases, pregnancy complications, cerebrovascular manifestations, musculoskeletal manifestations, respiratory manifestations, vision impairment, and other clinical manifestations. Increased awareness may optimize prevention, treatment, and follow‐up. Opportunities to enhance the methodological quality of research including better design and methodology, multisite collaborations, and larger and diverse sampling will optimize the generalizability and transferability of findings.