Engaging with older people and their carers to develop interventions for the self-management of chronic pain Searching for and reviewing self help material-a lay perspective EOPIC Ron Marsh 1 Richard Gard, Michael Morrison, Rosemary Morrison, Sheena Fowler, Carrie Stewart (PhD Student) Pat Schofield 1 On behalf of the EOPIC team ( Denis Martin 3, Derek Jones 4, Geraldine Anthony 1, Paul McNamee 3, Amanda Clarke 3, Blair Smith 4, Pat Schofield 1 ) 1 University of Aberdeen Centre of Academic Primary Care; Health Economics Research Unit; 2 Teesside University Institute of Health & Social Care; 3 Northumbria University School of Health, Community and Education Studies; 4 University of Dundee Population Health Background Pain is common: the one month population prevalence of pain, in persons aged years in the UK, has shown to range from around 8% in the abdomen to 28% in the low back area 1. In older persons, the occurrence of pain-especially disabling pain and /or pain at multiple sites- is a particularly important problem since it threatens independent functioning & functional self–efficacy 2. There is a plethora of self help materials available from a range of sources accessible to the general public. The difficulty is and in what format should they be offered. This project was developed to compliment the systematic reviews carried out as part of the EOPIC study. Aims &Objectives The aim of this project was to identify and agree usefulness of self help material or “grey literature”. Thus a comprehensive review of the available self-help literature will be carried out. This will facilitate an understanding of current self management practice within pain management & the appropriateness perceived usefulness of self-help material to an older adult. Methods Reviewers were drawn from lay participants within phase 1 and 2 of the EOPIC programme along with volunteers from the advisory group and contracts of older adults recruited into earlier studies within Aberdeen who also, expressed interest in maintaining continued involvement in research. One of the PhD students linked to the study and the Chief Investigator were also involved in this project. Library training was organised for all members of the group which included developing internet and literature searching skills and support in accessing self help material. A scoring system was developed by the group which was based upon service users preferences for self help materials and included ten items such as font size and colour. Literature was identified and reviewed. Any resources scoring above 5 on the scale were retained. Sources searched included: chemists: library; GP surgeries ;Arthritis research Council; International Pain Societies including American, Australian, British; CKS NHS; INTUTE; Scirus; SIGN; NICE; Patient UK; Pain Concern; books and periodicals. Results Over fifty –seven resources from over twenty –eight sources were identified. Thirty-two items were identified as meeting the key criteria for inclusion. Others were rejected as they did not meet the criteria for updates, support network or identified finding body. None of the resources that were identified were for older adult specifically. The material was organised into five categories; books/ebooks; internet; periodicals; leaflets and tapes. Conclusion Recommendations Overall, leaflets seem to be the preferred format. There are a few good internet sites and some useful books. The general rule is that a range of formats is probably the best option. A range of books, internet sites and leaflets were found to be useful. But usefulness of these may vary in use according to personal choice. The key recommendation that can be made from this work is that there is a need to develop a guide for older adults to enable them to search for and review self help material. References 1.Hunt IM et al (199): The prevalence &association features of chronic widespread pain in the community. Rheumatology (Oxford) 38(3): Onder G et al (2006). Association between daily pain and physical function among old-old adults living in the community : results from the iLSIRENTE study. Pain 121: References 1.Hunt IM et al (199): The prevalence &association features of chronic widespread pain in the community. Rheumatology (Oxford) 38(3): Onder G et al (2006). Association between daily pain and physical function among old-old adults living in the community : results from the iLSIRENTE study. Pain 121: This study was funded by the LLHW initiative