Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/10
Browse
2 results
Search Results
Item Restricted Development of Immersive Virtual Reality Intervention for Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: Mixed-Methods Study(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-10-05) Astek, Anfal; Sheeran, Liba; Sparkes, ValerieBackground: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Immersive virtual reality (IVR) enables interaction with virtual environments (VE) via a head-mounted display (HMD) and is widely used for chronic pain (CP) management, however with little pre-development investigation, and its effectiveness for CP/CLBP management is inconclusive. Therefore, this thesis aims to adopt the Medical Research Council Framework to inform IVR development and implementation for CLBP management. Methods: Three parts were conducted, using mixed-methods design: Part 1: a scoping review to map underpinning theories of IVR mechanisms of action in CP management and key features including software and dose. Part 2 engaged global stakeholders (healthcare practitioners and technology developers) to understand the use of IVR in CP management, adopting a sequential-explanatory study of two phases, Phase 1: an online survey, which informed Phase 2, online interviews with a subset of surveyed stakeholders. Part 3: online focus groups explored physiotherapists’ opinions regarding IVR for CLBP management. Results: Part 1: several IVR mechanisms were noted, with little theoretical basis. Customised software was frequently used, with diverse HMDs, and no optimal dose consensus. Implementation in a clinical setting was common, with adverse effects of motion sickness and HMD discomfort being noted. Part 2: the perceived IVR benefits for CP included combatting fear of movement, with VE personalisation to patient needs and culture being critical. To avoid risks, pre-screening, the initial session being a supervised clinic session, and gradual dose build-up were recommended. Part 3: IVR was viewed as suitable for CLBP patients with low motivation to exercise, however, skills’ transferability to the real world and fall risk were concerns. Part 2 and 3 found cost, practitioner acceptance, and training critical to IVR adoption. Conclusion and future implications: IVR might be a valuable alternative treatment for CLBP patients. Future work is needed to establish an effective working mechanism reflecting on CLBP heterogeneity. Personalisation, safety, workforce training, financial resources, and collaboration between practitioners, technology developers, and patients are key considerations.28 0Item Restricted Impact of Chronic Pain on Adolescents’ School Functioning and Pain Management Interventions in the School Setting(2023-07-19) Alsaggaf, Fatimah; Coyne, ImeldaBackground: Chronic pain is a widespread issue in children’s health that has a widespread impact on daily activities including participation in school settings. Thus, effective pain management has been emphasised to lessen the impact of adolescents’ chronic pain on school functioning (World Health Organisation 2020). A systematic literature review revealed a need for further research to explore the impact of adolescents’ chronic pain on all aspects of school functioning and the effective school personnel’s responses to managing pain in schools. Furthermore, there was also a deficit of empirical research about adolescents’ experiences of chronic pain in Saudi Arabia. Aim: To explore the impact of chronic pain on adolescents’ school functioning and to identify interventions for managing adolescents’ pain in schools in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A multiple case study design based on Yin’s (2018) methodology was used. Purposeful and theoretical samplings were used to recruit adolescents (n = 10) aged 12 to 18 years who had experienced chronic pain for at least three months, their parents (n = 10), and school personnel (n = 20). Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with participants and through archival hospital and school documents. Data were analysed using constant comparative analysis and cross-case synthesis following Charmaz (2014) and Yin (2018) respectively. Findings: The findings were categorised into three themes: 1) Adolescents’ experiences of chronic pain; 2) Impact of pain on school functioning; and 3) School support and management of adolescents with chronic pain. All adolescents reported that a chronic condition caused their pain and their chronic pain impacted negatively on school functioning, including attendance, performance and competence, physical activity, and social interactions. Adolescents experienced both supportive and non-supportive responses from school personnel, however, when they received school support this helped them to manage their pain in schools and to mitigate their chronic pain’s impact on school functioning. Conclusion: This research provides an insight into adolescents’ experiences of chronic pain, the impact on their school functioning, and how their pain was managed in schools in Saudi Arabia. Chronic pain is a significant health issue that had a detrimental impact on adolescents’ functioning in schools. There is a need for effective communication between parents, healthcare providers, and schools to manage adolescents’ chronic pain effectively. Moreover, a professional development education for school personnel should be provided to enhancing school outcomes and overall health of adolescents with chronic pain.38 0