Papers
3
Total Citations
41
H-Index
3
About
Martin Smalbrugge is a leading researcher in geriatric medicine, with a focused expertise in pain assessment and management for people living with dementia. His work addresses a critical clinical challenge: accurately identifying and treating pain in individuals who cannot verbally communicate their discomfort. Smalbrugge’s major contributions center on the innovative use of technology to bridge this gap. He has pioneered the application of the PainChek app, a digital tool that uses artificial intelligence to analyze facial expressions and detect pain behaviors. His studies, which have garnered over 40 citations, demonstrate the feasibility of this approach in residential aged care facilities. Notably, his research explores combining PainChek with the PARO social robot—a therapeutic device resembling a baby seal—to evaluate its efficacy in reducing chronic pain. Through feasibility studies and qualitative analyses, Smalbrugge is validating a novel, non-pharmacological intervention pathway. His work is instrumental in developing more humane, evidence-based protocols for pain management in vulnerable populations, directly improving the quality of life for residents with dementia.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2
- 3