Language of Pain
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Language of Pain
IRAS ID
225868
Contact name
L Hepburn
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Glasgow School of Art
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 2 months, 23 days
Research summary
Chronic pain is a common, complex, and challenging condition, generally accepted as pain lasting longer than three months and while recognised as a condition in its own right, it is also an umbrella term for severe pain occurring from a multitude of clinical conditions.
Recognised as a strategic priority for both the UK and Scottish Government, research shows that service provision for the management of chronic pain across the UK remains inadequate. Further to this, the economic burden of chronic pain is known to be significant.
The assessment and management of chronic pain in primary care is challenging due to the complex factors involved. From a health professional perspective, time is often limited and there are challenges around understanding and interpreting of pain as described by a patient. Similarly the frequency of visits, the personal knowledge of a patient and continuation of care can also impact the translation of pain descriptors into a suitable care plan.
From the perspective of people living with chronic pain, how pain is described to health professionals can vary. This might be tailored to the type of health professional being consulted and is influenced by the length of time of the appointment, by the number of people involved and by the perceived outcome of the interaction.
This project engages people experiencing chronic pain in Moray, health professionals providing care and academics specializing in pain in series of three workshops that aim to develop an innovative assessment tool that creates equal and open dialogue, promotes shared ownership and understanding and attempts to address the imbalance between the health professional and the patient through experiential learning and engagement. People experiencing chronic pain will be recruited through a local volunteer support group; health professionals identified and recruited via the NHS and academics recruited directly by research staff.
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/EE/0256
Date of REC Opinion
16 Aug 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion