Rural
23 October, 2024
Help farmers stop a niggle from becoming a pain in the neck
Farmers are often considered the backbone of the Australian economy. Yet with long hours, high demands, and tough conditions it’s easy for them to put their health on the backburner.
Now, new research from the University of South Australia hopes to provide farmers with a dedicated pain management resource, to help them better manage chronic pain.
In Australia, one in five people aged 45+ live with persistent, ongoing pain.
People living in rural or remote Australia are more likely to have chronic pain.
Currently, there are no farmer-focused chronic pain management resources available to help Australian farmers better manage chronic pain.
UniSA PhD student Indika Koralegedera says the new resource will be designed in consultation with farmers and rural-based clinicians.
“Agriculture is one of the most perilous occupations due to its high prevalence of chronic diseases, suicide, work-related injuries and accidents, disability, and mortality,” Koralegedera says.
“But despite increased risks of injury and chronic pain, research shows that farmers often prefer to deal with problems on their own, rather than seeking professional help.”
Researchers are now calling for farmers with experience of chronic pain (as well as rural pain health experts) to engage in up to three online video workshop discussions to establish and provide feedback on a pain management resource for farming and rural communities.
Koralegedera says the study hopes to deliver improved pain management supports for the farming community.
“Chronic pain has an immense impact on many communities, but especially farmers.
We know that farmers are much less likely to seek help when they are in pain, so finding ways to navigate these barriers and optimise pain-management techniques is imperative,” Koralegedera says.
“Gaining perspectives from farmers and regional health professionals is key to delivering a valuable support to better manage chronic pain.”
To participate in the study email indika.koralegedera@mymail.unisa.edu.au
