Follow-on after pain management programmes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Follow-on after pain management programmes: Evaluation of a chronic pain peer support network.
IRAS ID
229806
Contact name
Jeremy Horwood
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 24 days
Research summary
Background: Approximately 70% of NHS costs are assigned to the care of long term conditions. It is predicted that demand will increase further. Developing self-management support has been heralded as the best hope to improve both the quality and efficiency of care. North Bristol NHS Trust have developed a patient-led peer support network for patients to help people self-manage their symptoms of chronic pain (e.g. from fibromyalgia syndrome or non-specific low back pain). Patients can take part in this peer support after they have completed a clinician-led Pain Management Programme (PMP) or Self-Management Programme (SMP). The peer support network involves regular group meetings and informal contacts between individuals. Currently there are seventeen groups meeting regularly, some of whom have been meeting for several years.
Project Aims: This qualitative study will aim to understand patients', patient tutor volunteers' and clinical staff views and experiences of peer support. The study will use realist evaluation to examine patient experiences, including the perceived impact and effectiveness of these peer support groups and why peer support may (or may not) work for them.
Anticipated impacts: The use of peer support groups has the potential for considerable patient benefit at a low cost by consolidating treatment gains and preventing relapse. This initial evaluation of the experiences and perceived effectiveness of peer support groups will provide an understanding of support network mechanisms and their potential impact on individuals for developing resilience and sustaining or improving their initial outcomes from PMP/SMP treatment.REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/EM/0286
Date of REC Opinion
24 Jul 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion