In this episode, Tim talks to the acclaimed osteopath and PhD candidate, Alison Sim about her research on preventing chronic pain after injury, particularly in the context of compensable care.

Alison discusses the stressful and distressing nature of the compensation claim process, which can significantly impact recovery. Her research reveals an overlap in frustrations experienced by both claimants and clinicians, particularly regarding delays in care and lack of support. Alison's team developed a beneficial 5-session telehealth intervention based on co-design workshops with claimants. Interviews with experienced clinicians highlighted a common pattern of initial feelings of being underskilled, seeking further education, and ultimately developing a sense of mastery in their role. Alison suggests improvements to the compensation system, including early access to high-quality care and streamlining the claims process. Her research emphasises the importance of addressing psychosocial aspects of injury recovery in compensable care settings to foster better outcomes for individuals.

Keywords

chronic pain, compensable care, claims process, early interventions, pain self-management, social support, clinician experience, complexity, uncertainty

Takeaways

• The claims process in compensable care can be distressing for both claimants and clinicians, and it is a significant predictor of poor outcomes.
• Early interventions that provide information about the claims process, pain self-management strategies, and social support can help improve outcomes for claimants.
• Experienced clinicians working in compensable care can find fulfillment and a sense of mastery in managing complexity and uncertainty.
• Improving access to high-quality care, enhancing communication skills, and providing support for both claimants and clinicians are essential for better outcomes in compensable care.
• Further research and evaluation are needed to assess the impact of interventions and systemic changes in compensable care.

• "I am interested in looking at early interventions to prevent the development of chronic pain following injury and particularly interested in injury in the setting of compensable care."
• "The distress of interacting with the processes required to engage with a claim is a big predictor of poor outcomes."
• "People didn't understand the claims process and felt overwhelmed by it."

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