Co-production of a peer support programme for adults living with chronic non-cancer pain using intervention mapping.

Chronic pain is a condition of significant prevalence globally and is managed through a broad spectrum of approaches. Self-management is a key component of chronic pain management, and peer support is one approach to facilitating self-management. Peer support is often provided by peer support volunteers (PSVs) who are usually people with a similar condition to the person living with chronic pain (PwCP), and they deliver a combination of emotional, instrumental, informational, and appraisal support through their lived experience or training. Peer support has a long history in the management of chronic conditions including chronic pain, but often these interventions are not adequately founded in theory and evidence, or they are produced without thorough involvement of stakeholders. The aim of this thesis was to produce a set of guidelines on delivering a peer support programme for PwCP that was based on theory, evidence, and stakeholder knowledge and experience. This thesis is comprised of two phases. The first phase involved conducting a scoping review to inform the proposed method for designing the primary research; programme development using Intervention Mapping (IM). The second phase contained the primary research of this study. In preparation for data collection, patient and public involvement (PPI) consultations were held to inform the design of the data collection workshops. Then, utilising the IM approach, a programme development study was conducted. Through a series of four iterative workshops with PwCP, third sector representatives, and healthcare professionals, the needs of PwCP were assessed, peer support programme objectives were set, and methods of delivery were discussed. These findings were then analysed using an approach informed by qualitative content analysis, with interpretation guided by the Behaviour Change Wheel and Theoretical Domains Framework. The scoping review illuminated the real-world operationalisation of IM and highlighted the importance of planning, stakeholder involvement, and adequate engagement with theory. This enabled the researcher to plan the workshops around specific tasks in IM, reinforced the importance of thorough collaboration with stakeholders, and guided the use of theory during data analysis. The PPI consultations suggested workshops should be limited to two hours and contain regular breaks. All research participants requested online workshops, and the following findings were co-produced: First, the guidelines needed to provide flexible delivery options for the programme to support the capacities of both PSVs and PwCP. Second, it needed to include content that covered the needs of PwCP, including self-management skills, social life and relationships, and influential factors outside of chronic pain. Finally, there needed to be sufficient training and support for PSVs included in the guidelines. All the findings were collated into a draft handbook of the guidelines named the CHIPPS (CHronIc Pain Peer Support) Handbook. The research produced novel, theory-, evidence-, and stakeholder-informed guidelines for a peer support programme for PwCP. It reinforced the importance of a person-centred approach to chronic pain management and provided additional knowledge on involving the social circle of PwCP in their care and the factors outside of chronic pain that impact the lives of PwCP. Recommendations have been made for the implementation and evaluation of the CHIPPS programme including further development of the training package and feasibility and acceptability testing of the guidelines.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Robert Gordon University

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Herbert, Tom

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• K. Cooper, M. Malone and N. Rhind

• Chronic pain
• Patient peer support
• Co-production
• Intervention development
• Intervention mapping
• Patient self-management
• Behaviour change theory

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

oai:rgu-repository.worktribe.com:3085456
https://doi.org/10.48526/rgu-wt-3085456

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:rgu-repository.worktribe.com:3085456