Chronic pain through COVID

Objectives: To identify good practice in the community management of chronic pain, and to understand the perspective of a group of healthcare service users towards the management of chronic pain using technology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Forty-five people, recruited via social media and Pain Association Scotland, participated in three focus groups hosted over Zoom. Focus groups were conducted using semi-structured questions to guide the conversation. Data were analysed using Ritchie / Spencer's Framework Analysis. Results: The participants shared observations of their experiences of remotely supported chronic pain services and insights into the potential for future chronic pain care provision. Experiences were in the majority positive with some describing their rapid engagement with technology during the COVID pandemic. Conclusion: Results suggest there is strong potential for telehealth to complement and support existing provision of pain management services

Chronic Pain through COVID

Data availability statement: The datasets presented in this article are not readily available because the data is confidential and anonymous. Requests to access the datasets should be directed to [email protected] statement: The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by Abertay University’s Research Ethics Committee (EMS4573). The patients/participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study.Copyright © 2022 Dunham, Bacon, Cottom, McCrone, Mehrpouya, Spyridonis, Thompson and Schofield. Objectives: To identify good practice in the community management of chronic pain, and to understand the perspective of a group of healthcare service users towards the management of chronic pain using technology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Forty-five people, recruited via social media and Pain Association Scotland, participated in three focus groups hosted over Zoom. Focus groups were conducted using semi-structured questions to guide the conversation. Data were analysed using Ritchie / Spencer's Framework Analysis. Results: The participants shared observations of their experiences of remotely supported chronic pain services and insights into the potential for future chronic pain care provision. Experiences were in the majority positive with some describing their rapid engagement with technology during the COVID pandemic. Conclusion: Results suggest there is strong potential for telehealth to complement and support existing provision of pain management services

To retain or remove the syndesmotic screw: a review of literature

Introduction: Syndesmotic positioning screws are frequently placed in unstable ankle fractures. Many facets of adequate placement techniques have been the subject of various studies. Whether or not the syndesmosis screw should be removed prior to weight-bearing is still debated. In this study, the recent literature is reviewed concerning the need for removal of the syndesmotic screw. Materials and methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the electronic databases of the Cochrane Library, Pubmed Medline and EMbase from January 2000 to October 2010. Results: A total of seven studies were identified in the literature. Most studies found no difference in outcome between retained or removed screws. Patients with screws that were broken, or showed loosening, had similar or improved outcome compared to patients with removed screws. Removal of the syndesmotic screws, when deemed necessary, is usually not performed before 8-12 weeks. Conclusion: There is paucity in randomized controlled trials on the absolute need for removal of the syndesmotic screw. However, current literature suggests that it might be reserved for intact screws that cause hardware irritation or reduced range of motion after 4-6 months

Service user local self-management group evaluation

In this short paper, we will look at a composite evaluation of a self help group , run by a charity in Perth (Scotland). We will consider the data elements gathered, and discuss the usability of the the composite data as an output for evaluation in a health care context. The paper examines the effectiveness of aggregate data explores the criteria adopted by the Association. the aim was to ensure that output from the analysis would be understood by a wide audience.The paradigm for approach was that the analysis incorporated cost-effective benefits to the local pain services, health benefits to patients, potential reduction in service usage and an increase in patient engagement. Output from this short study indicated that focused, managed and monitored resource can assist in the understanding and management of chronic conditions by identifying unwanted changes in health outlooks from chronic condition sufferers