About this resource

The ENGAGE study explored what people living with persistent pain learn from participating in an interdisciplinary pain management program, how their behaviours change throughout the program, and what aspects of care matter most to them.

Rather than focusing only on clinical outcomes, the project examined participants' lived experiences to better understand what supports meaningful and lasting change. These findings are helping to shape more person-centred interdisciplinary pain management programs that are responsive to the needs and priorities of consumers.

Led by Kelly Walsh and the Metro South Pain Rehabilitation Centre, this Hopkins Centre Seed Project is informing improvements to the ENGAGE pain management program and supporting broader translation of person-centred pain rehabilitation practices.

Project Resources

Poster Presentation

Click here to view project poster 'Condiserations for person-centreing group pain management programs'.   

Project Outcomes

The ENGAGE study has contributed to improvements in research, clinical practice and knowledge translation.

• Improved understanding of participant learning
  The project identified that participants' most valuable learnings often extended beyond the formal educational content. Many described developing greater confidence to live well with pain, reconnect with meaningful activities, and shift away from focusing solely on pain reduction.
• Person-centred program development
  Study findings are being used to further develop the ENGAGE interdisciplinary pain management program by placing greater emphasis on what participants themselves find most meaningful and beneficial throughout their rehabilitation journey.
• Knowledge translation into clinical practice
  The research is supporting the redesign of interdisciplinary pain management programs to ensure they are more responsive, consumer-focused and relevant to the everyday experiences of people living with persistent pain.

 

Conference presentations

Project findings have been shared nationally through presentations at professional conferences, including the Australian Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting, helping translate research findings into broader clinical practice.

 

Foundation for future research

The project has established a strong evidence base for future research exploring patient learning, behaviour change, mechanisms of change within interdisciplinary pain management programs, and the role of person-centred care in improving rehabilitation outcomes.