Co-designing interventions for chronic pain: A participatory action research study with south Asian women

Chronic pain is a significant health issue, particularly for women, with South Asian women being an underrepresented group in research. This study aimed to explore the needs and challenges of South Asian women living with chronic pain and develop strategies to address them.

Participatory Action Research.

Sixteen South Asian women in the United Kingdom, aged 30 to 78 years, participated in three rounds of data collection through focus groups, co-development of two intervention approaches and feedback sessions. Participants completed the full long-form Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) prior to phase 1 and again in phase 3. A paired-samples t-test was conducted using SPSS to determine whether there was a significant difference between pre- and post-intervention scores.

Phase one identified two pain management intervention approaches: a tailored written resource and a group peer support intervention. Phase two provided insights into their design. Phase three evaluated the strategies following creation and pilot and identified key themes regarding effectiveness: resource design, effects and continued engagement. Quantitative analysis showed significant improvements in mental well-being scores across the course of the Participatory Action Research process.

This study highlights barriers and facilitators to pain management among South Asian women, offering transferable insights for culturally sensitive interventions. Participatory approaches can facilitate the development of culturally tailored interventions with the potential to enhance coping, self-efficacy, empowerment and mental well-being. This study provides methodological and practical guidance for co-designing interventions for underrepresented communities, with implications for broader implementation and future research.