The Centre for Pain Research at NUI Galway is currently recruiting patients with back pain to take part in the Pain Disability Prevention Programme (PDP ) trial, which is funded by the HSE. The study offers patients with back pain the opportunity to avail of 10 sessions with a clinical psychologist trained in pain management. These sessions will focus on active rehabilitation, instruction in a range of pacing techniques, cognitive therapy to help identify negative thinking patterns and the development of effective challenges, stretching and exercising to improve physical function. Sessions are free of charge and will take place in counties Galway, Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Limerick and Cork. GPs and physiotherapists in these counties are being encouraged to refer suitable patients to the study.
Miriam Raftery, researcher at the Centre for Pain Research, said: “We know that a combination of psychological and physical therapies provided at the early stages of back pain are beneficial, particularly for people at risk of long term disability. However multidisciplinary rehabilitation services are often only accessible via specialised hospital-based pain management teams. We aim to trial an earlier access route to psychological pain management at a local level. This is important as many people find that a combination of cognitive and physical rehabilitation like the PDP programme enables them to take back control of their lives, to do more and feel better. By trialling this early-intervention programme we can assess if this service is beneficial for people with chronic pain.”
Psychologists are attached to the trial in each of the areas it is running so appointments take place locally for patients. In Limerick, Cork and Galway, appointments take place in the city, while in Donegal appointments are held in Letterkenny and Buncrana. For patients in the Mayo region, appointments take place in Swinford, and in Sligo appointments are being held in Sligo town.
The study is interested in hearing from patients who have back pain and are either off work or on reduced work hours due to pain. Rehabilitation sessions are free of charge and take place locally. Patients must have pain for no longer than 12 months. All patients can access physiotherapy and other support services as usual while involved in the trial.
For further information about taking part, contact Miriam Raftery, Centre for Pain Research, NUI Galway, email [email protected] , phone 091 495 830 or see the website www.nuigalway.ie/pdp
GPs interested in referring suitable patients to the trial can also contact this number.
