Ronald O’Kane is a PhD researcher at Glasgow Caledonian University. His research focuses on supporting employees with chronic pain to remain in work, particularly within small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (organisations with fewer than 250 employees).

Chronic pain affects around 43% of the UK population and can present significant challenges for both employees and employers, including reduced wellbeing, sickness absence, and difficulties in workplace relationships. Compared to larger organisations, SMEs often have fewer resources available to support employees with long-term health conditions.

This PhD research has explored what is needed to help employees with chronic pain stay in work within SMEs, from both employee and employer perspectives. Findings to date indicate that managers would welcome education about chronic pain and practical support strategies. In response, an education plan has been co-developed with SME managers and employees with chronic pain to help managers better support staff. This intervention is known as PRISM (Pain Recognition and Intervention Skills for Managers).

Ronald is now inviting SME managers or those with line management responsibility to review the PRISM education plan and provide their views on whether it would be practical, acceptable, and engaging in the workplace. Participation involves reading the plan and completing a short questionnaire, which will take less than 15 minutes to complete.

If you are interested in taking part, please access the study via the following link (hold Ctrl and click):
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9ygnx8pM_km8SUerAvepMGAeAjtZyGZIuJilc1_hbIZUQ05SQjdRNkFVMzZDMzhGUzZQRUhYNEVGUy4u

Participants will be asked to:

• Read the study information sheet, which outlines the full eligibility criteria

• Provide informed consent if eligible

• Complete an optional short demographic questionnaire followed by the main study questionnaire

The study has received ethical approval from the School of Health and Life Sciences Ethics Committee at Glasgow Caledonian University and is supervised by Professor Joanna McParland (j.McParland@gcu.ac.uk).

For further information, please contact Ronald O’Kane at ronald.okane@gcu.ac.uk.