Pain in older people with frailty - The POPPY Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Developing the evidence and associated service models to support older people living with frailty to manage their pain and to reduce its impact on their lives: a mixed method, co-design study
IRAS ID
310174
Contact name
Lesley Brown
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Pain is common amongst older people as a consequence of arthritis and related diseases. Pain prevalence is high in older people living with frailty and more likely to impact on their lives than in fitter older people. This study aims to develop the content, implementation strategies, service and professional guidance to enable older people with frailty to better manage their pain.
This is a mixed method, co-design study. Phase 1 will map research evidence from systematic reviews and will inform later study stages. Phase 2 includes qualitative interviews with approximately 30 community dwelling older people (≥ 75 years). Interviews will take place in-person or using telephone/video-conference formats, depending on participant preference. Some interviews will be dyadic interviews, including the participant’s partner/spouse, family member or unpaid carer. Interviews will help understand how older people with frailty experience and manage pain and engage with health care professionals (HCPs) about their pain.
Phase 3 will include identification of specific pain services within three distinct geographical areas. A survey will be administered to service managers to understand the service (e.g. how the service is accessed and the patient profile). This will be followed by interviews with HCPs working within the service. Interviews will help understand barriers and facilitators to engaging older people with frailty in pain management services and how they can be supported to manage their pain. Interviews will be conducted by telephone/video-conference. Up to 90 interviews with HCPs are planned.
Phase 4 includes co-design workshops with various stakeholders (older people, HCPs and commissioners). This will help develop and operationalise theory-informed pain management guidance specific to the needs of older people with frailty within service contexts.
The study will have input from an Oversight Patient and Public Involvement group. The project will run for 3 years.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/YH/0080
Date of REC Opinion
28 Apr 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion