StudyU: a new tool to self manage chronic pain
Have you been in pain for longer than 3 months?
Is pain affecting your life?
Are you interested in a scientific study to see what activities help you with your pain?
We know this is very tough to cope with. You might be interested in a study to see what could help you with your pain.
The first thing you do in this study is choose an activity (like a walking program, or Tai Chi, or neck/back exercises) or an online program (like counselling for pain management, or online yoga) which often help people with pain. HHDoctors has a list of recommended options, which also include no-cost and low-cost options available online or in the community, to give you some ideas what you could choose.
Then you do your own experiment to see if your chosen activity actually helps you.
For this experiment, you use an app on your mobile phone. Our nurses and researchers will help you set this up, and teach you how to use it. The app is called StudyU.
StudyU is really simple. You use it to rate your pain levels, and how your pain is affecting you, once a day while you try out your chosen activity. At the end of 6 weeks, the app shows you how your pain levels have been over this time, compared to before you started the activity. The app also sends a report to your GP, so you can both see if the activity has actually helped you with your pain.
People with persistent pain have told us how hard this is to cope with, but that it helps to take control and find out whether something is actually working or not. If it isn’t working then you can stop it – and maybe choose something else to test next!
Who can take part?
You can take part if:
- You are over 18 years of age
- You have had pain affecting your life for at least 3 months
- You have a mobile phone
Who are we?
The research team is part of a group of researchers from:
- The University of Queensland
- Health Hub Doctors
- HassoPlattner Institute, Germany
- Metro South Pain Rehabilitation Centre, Princess Alexandra Hospital.
The study is funded by Medibank Better Health Foundation, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Motor Accident Insurance Commission, Queensland.
Find out more
Ms Shauna Fjaagesund, Health Hub Doctors
P: (07) 5322 4900 or 0450 918 770
Dr Jane Nikles, The University of Queensland
M: 0408 599 033
