Inequalities, Chronic Pain, Distress and Medication
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The experiences of individuals from communities with high deprivation who suffer from chronic pain and psychological distress and are prescribed medication to manage their pain and distress: a mixed methods study.
IRAS ID
338938
Contact name
Claira Moro
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Plymouth
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 31 days
Research summary
This study will explore the lived experiences of individuals from socio-economically deprived communities, who suffer from chronic pain (CP) and, where applicable, co-occurring psychological distress and who are prescribed medication for their chronic pain and/or distress. The researcher will be embedded in the General Practice, through an honorary contract. The researcher will first identify individuals who suffer from CP and/or psychological distress via their electronic health record and whose Index of Multiple Deprivation flag them as living in
socio-economically deprived areas. All identified individuals will be sent three questionnaires and a survey that will ask them questions about their experiences of the healthcare system, medication, and their wider beliefs about alternative forms of treatment such as psychological therapy.
Participants will be remunerated for their time.
Eight to ten survey responders will be approached to participate in a semi-structured interview to explore their lived experiences further and will also be remunerated for their time.From the survey, quantitative descriptive analysis will be drawn to describe this population.
Qualitative material will be analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.The aim is to gain further understanding of the experiences of individuals from socio-economically deprived communities with the healthcare system and with being prescribed medication for pain and/or distress.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/SC/0276
Date of REC Opinion
9 Oct 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion