thews output 1 needs analysis focus groupthews-platform.eu/outputs/o1/output 1 presentation.pdf ·...
Post on 10-Aug-2020
2 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
THEWS Output 1Needs Analysis
Focus Group
Manos Stefanakis
Outcome 1 Coordinator
Neck pain
Neck pain prevalence
Neck pain epidemiology
Neck pain epidemiology
Neck pain epidemiology
Office Workers
Chronic neck pain
Stretching exercises for neck pain
RCT of 125 women with non-specific neck pain
No significant difference in pain between a group of patients receiving manual therapy 2/week and a group doing stretches 5 times/week
Neck and shoulder pain, disability index and neck stiffness decreased significantly more in manual therapy
Low-cost stretching exercises can be recommended as an appropriate therapy intervention to relieve pain, at least in the short-term
Ylinen et al. 2007 J Rehabil Med 39: 126–132
Strengthening exercises
Strengthening exs improved the effect of manual therapy
Results were maintained in the 2 years follow up
Motor control exercises
Multicentre RCT (n=200 cervicogenic headache patients)
Groups:
Mobilization/manipulation group
Exercise therapy group
Combined mobilization/manipulation and exercise group
Control group Groups 1-3 had significantly reduced headache frequency and
intensity
10% more patients experienced a complete reduction in headache frequency when treated with mobilization/ manipulation and exercise than those treated with the other approaches
Jull et al. 2002 Spine 27 (17): 1835-43
Sick leave and return to work
Selection of exercises
Why don’t we ask the patients???
Why don’t we ask the patients???
After all they are the end user’s………….
Why don’t we ask the patients???
After all they are the end user’s………….
They should be able to tell you what they need…..
Thews needs analysis
Focus group 1
Greece
Focus group 2
Greece
Focus group 3
Norway
Focus group 4
Cyprus
4 focus groups with office workers in 3 countries
Focus groups
• 8 office workers
• Both males and females
• Chronic pain patients
• 4 office workers
• All females
• 8 office workers
• Both males and females
• 8 office workers
• Both males and females
Focus group 1
Greece
Focus group 2
Greece
Focus group 4
Cyprus
Focus group 3
Norway
Aim and objectives
The primary objective of the focus groups was to identify the needs of office employees with neck complains in relation to exercise for prevention and management of their neck problem.
Methodology
“What is the biggest problem with your neck”
“How is this problem affecting your work and your life”
“What do you think is causing/affecting your neck problem”
“What are the strategies you use to alleviate/relieve your problem”
“And more importantly are there any exercises you use to relieve your complaints?”
“What is the biggest problem with your neck”
Most of the participants identified neck pain as their main problem
Muscle tightness, muscle spasm and muscle soreness was another frequently mentioned complain
Arm and upper extremity problems were not a significant problem in Cyprus and Greece
Few of the participants mentioned some forearm pain due to the desk pressure on the forearm muscles
Muscle tightness and occasional muscle pain was reported in the area of upper trapezius and between the shoulder blades
Headaches were present in some of the cases especially after prolonged hours in front of the computer
Neck tightness and stiffness especially in rotation was a common problem
Severity of the complaints varied across the year and most of the participants reported episodic appearance of their neck problem
Complaints depended on the time spend in their desk and cold weather and intensity tended to be less on holidays and days with less workload
“How is this problem affecting your work and your life”
Some of the participants reported that their neck problem was significant enough to affect their work
All of them agreed that it affects their productivity
Others reported lack of concentration
Stress, anxiety and fatigue was caused by the neck pain which frequently led to headaches
In Norway some of the participants were on a varied percentage of sick leave or reduced duties
Some of them were also using the “Green prescription” in the past
Frequent tension with other colleagues
Participants would spend more time working in their desk if they didn’t have the pain
Interruption of sleep was frequent
Difficulty with driving especially reversing the car
Absence from work was rare in the Cyprus and Greece
In Norway a significant number of working time and productivity were lost
Some participants in Norway reported they had significant problems with house duties and they were frequently using the help of other family members for these tasks
Associated pain
“What do you think is causing/affecting your neck problem”
Poor sitting habits
Desk ergonomics
short desk
relatively high chair
forward head posture
slumped sitting
placement and height of the computer screen
Long hours at the office in front of the computer increased neck complaints
Blind typing was considered important as “you don’t have to flex your neck”
Talking on the phone and typing at the same time provokes pain due to the need for neck side flexion to hold the phone
Other provocative factors mentioned were the number of pillows during night sleep, the condition of their mattress, air condition at work
Psychological stress makes the problem worse and can provoke muscle tension
More than 50% of them felt that exercise was helpful and they stated they feel remission of their symptoms when they exercise regularly
“What are the strategies you use to alleviate/relieve your problem”
Massage e.g self - massage of the upper trapezius
Frequent interruption of sitting
Long walks around the building or outside
Hot shower in the morning
Medication (pain killers, pain soothing creams and NSAIDs)
Change of chair/desk
Stress management
“Are there any exercises you use to relieve your complaints?”
Simple ROM exercises (“moving the neck/head around”)
Stretching exercises
Aerobic exercises
Exercises for back extensors and generally postural exercises
Strengths of the focus groups
Same methodology across all groups
Predefined script with explanatory directions regarding the objectives of the activity
In addition the script contained the relevant questions phrased in the same “open ended way” for all groups
There were also secondary or explanatory questions to gain further clarifications
All of these were prepared in the participant’s native language
3 different countries
Males and females
Chronic and less chronic
Conclusions
Overall the objectives of the activity were achieved as several important conclusions were confirmed by the replies of the participants
Specifically the activity identified a gap in the guidance of office workers with neck discomfort in appropriate exercises and stress management strategies for prevention or management of their complaint especially in the workplace
These results provide some preliminary support for the importance of the THEWS project
Thank you
top related