In Australia 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 suffer from chronic pain. Chronic pain represents a significant burden on individuals, healthcare systems, and our society. While chronic pain affects populations across all ages and demographic categories, there is a disproportionate amount of people impacted in rural and regional areas.
Healthy North Coast is proud to be supporting research being led by Charles Sturt University in the management of chronic pain in regional areas.
‘Building partnerships for regional pain care’ is aiming to explore the current services for people that live in the Port Macquarie area, in which there is reduced access to specialist public pain services.
Using perspectives gathered from chronic pain patients and practitioners, a collaborative co-design process will be used to develop a prototype of an enhanced model of chronic pain care for regional areas.
The project team is comprised of researchers from Charles Sturt University, Western Sydney University, University of New England, and the Hunter Medical Research Institute. The project has received a grant of $50,000 through the Charles Sturt University Rural Health Research Institute (RHRI).
The researchers would like to hear from you if you provide health or wellbeing services for people living with chronic pain that reside within the Port Macquarie Hastings area, or if you are involved in the administration of health or wellbeing services for people living with chronic pain.
This is not restricted or limited to certain clinicians or particular services, as the researchers want to capture a broad scope of people.
The research will involve clinicians taking part in a short interview or focus group. You will also have the opportunity to take part in a workshop to refine the way in which services for pain management can be delivered in the Port Macquarie Hastings area. You will be reimbursed for your time.
If this is something you are interested in, please reach out to Project Officer Olivia Pottinger ([email protected]), or Ian Skinner ([email protected] or 02 6582 9374).
For more information and to leave your contact details, visit here.
Further information can be found in the invitation to healthcare providers.
