A Consideration of the Psychological Aspects to Managing Patients with Painful Diabetic Neuropathy: An Insight into Pain Management Services at a Tertiary Centre in the UK

Abstract Background Chronic pain management services have historically been under-resourced in Ireland. There is no agreed model of care for chronic pain management services in Ireland. Previous studies have assessed the extent of services in Ireland without examining waiting times for access to services. Aims This study aimed to quantify the extent of, geographical distribution of and waiting times for access to publicly funded chronic pain management services in Ireland. Methods Using the British Pain Society’s Core Standards for Pain Management Services in the UK (2015) and International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) recommendations, a questionnaire was devised. Publically funded departments in Ireland were contacted and questionnaires completed. Waiting list data was publicly available and obtained from the National Treatment Purchase Fund website. Results There was a 100% response rate. Sixteen publicly funded chronic pain management services were identified. There are 27 chronic pain management consultants (16.6 whole time equivalents (WTE)) practicing chronic pain management, amounting to 0.55 specialists (0.34 WTEs)/100,000 of the population. There are 21 WTE for non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs), 26.5 WTEs for nursing, 8 WTEs for physiotherapy and 6.2 WTEs for psychology, nationally. A percentage of 93.75% of departments (n = 15) provide interventional therapies, 37.5% (n = 6) provide advanced neuromodulation and 43.75% (n = 7) are managing intrathecal pump therapies. There are five pain management programmes nationally. As of January 2020, ~ 25% patients on waiting lists for outpatient appointments were waiting > 18 months, with ~ 17% patients on waiting lists for interventional treatments waiting > 12 months. Conclusions Shortage of multidisciplinary staff is of particular concern for Irish services. Patient access is limited as evidenced by significant waiting lists. In order to improve access to care and bring services in line with international recommendations, increased resources are needed.

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Peoples’ experiences of painful diabetic neuropathy: are pain management programmes appropriate?

British Journal of Pain ◽

10.1177/2049463721989753 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 204946372198975

Author(s):

Ben Davies ◽

Fiona Cramp ◽

Jeremy Gauntlett-Gilbert ◽

Candida S McCabe

Keyword(s):

Pain Management ◽

Diabetic Neuropathy ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Painful Diabetic Neuropathy ◽

Psychological Approach ◽

Pragmatic Approach ◽

Seeking Help ◽

Psychological Coping ◽

Inductive Thematic Analysis

Objective: Painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is a painful complication of diabetes. This study aimed to explore: (1) strategies used by participants to manage impacts of PDN and (2) their perspectives on whether strategies from pain management programmes (PMPs) had applicability for PDN. Design: Participants were recruited through local National Health Service (NHS) diabetes and PDN clinics, and nationally from a diabetes support charity. One-to-one interviews were conducted. The transcribed data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Twenty-three people were interviewed who had PDN symptoms for mean 10 years. Four themes emerged from the data: seeking help and advice, pragmatic approach to management, perspectives on physical activity and perspectives on psychological coping strategies. Conclusion: Some participants were open to the strategies advised by PMP strategies. There were also strong opinions that no exercise or psychological approach could help with diabetes-related pain. It is possible PMPs as currently delivered need to be adapted to maximise engagement from people with PDN. Research is required to understand the healthcare priorities of people with PDN and whether these priorities can be mapped to existing management strategies.

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Research Review: A New Option in Pain Management—Duloxetine versus Placebo in Patients with Painful Diabetic Neuropathy

Geriatric Nursing ◽

10.1016/j.gerinurse.2005.09.017 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 26 (6) ◽

pp. 355-356

Author(s):

Barbara Resnick

Keyword(s):

Pain Management ◽

Diabetic Neuropathy ◽

Research Review ◽

Painful Diabetic Neuropathy

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NOMOPHOBIA – An Insight into Its Psychological Aspects in India

International Journal of Indian Psychology ◽

10.25215/0402.041 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Aparna Kanmani S ◽

Bhavani U ◽

Maragatham R S

Keyword(s):

Mobile Phone ◽

Specific Phobia ◽

Psychological Aspects ◽

Standard Of Living ◽

Network Coverage ◽

Snowball Sampling ◽

Daily Lives ◽

Average Person ◽

The Uk ◽

Insight Into

Smartphones are not just becoming a part of our daily lives – but a part of each and every one of us. The presence of this handy device that holds the world just a touch away has been greatly significant and unavoidable in our standard of living. It is surprising to note that an average person checks their phone 110 times per day, even without their knowledge or any reason. It is not just perceived as a gadget, but as a digital umbilical cord connecting us to a fulfilled life. While the presence of smartphones has its mark, its absence has notable impacts too. Nomophobia (NO-Mobile phone-PHOBIA) -The fear/anxiety of being away from mobile phone contact- is an alarmingly raising specific phobia in the recent times. A study on Britain mobile phone users found that nearly 53% of them tend to be anxious when they ‘lose their mobile phone, run out of battery or balance, or have no network coverage’.72% of people state that there is a very little chance they will ever move 5 feet away from their phone. Interestingly, most such people use it even during shower. According to an article in the UK daily ‘The Telegraph’(21 Oct 2015), Global Smartphone sales was predicted to grow by 18%, where the growth will be driven by developing markets, led by India, China and Indonesia. Considering this tremendous increase in the Smartphone market in India, it is but threatening to think about the dependency that Indians are facing with their mobile device. This study gives an insight into the levels of Nomophobia that prevails in India and its psychological aspects in four major dimensions using the NMP-Questionnaire. A sample of 1500 Smartphone users from various states of India collected through snowball sampling were assessed on their usage purpose and pattern. Evaluating correlates such as age, gender and occupation showed that females have higher levels of Nomophobia than males and students (18-24 years) fall under higher severity of Nomophobia than working class.

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