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The key driver for this research is to provide clinicians with robust tools that they can use to evaluate, treat and therefore improve the clinical outcome in their patients. Our research has assisted the development of the evidence base of many clinical treatments and assessment tools. This has led to the design and development of new rehabilitation products and medical devices in partnership with both large companies and small to medium sized enterprises. The core impact of this work has been improvements in patient care and quality of life by improving the efficacy and effectiveness in these areas with a particular focus on the advancement of conservative management and lower limb rehabilitation.
The Pain Research Group (PRG) is a research team within the Centre for Health and Social Care Research (CHSCR). The PRG's research programme in chronic pain management encompasses a range of robust methodological approaches to achieve better patient outcomes with local, national and international impact. The PRG has adopted a dual approach to investigating the treatment of chronic pain, incorporating psychological factors with the application of neuromodulation techniques. This has led to significant improvements in patient outcomes and patient satisfaction surveys demonstrate excellent, positive results. The research has had significant influence on clinical practice at national level, underpinning recommendations for best practice issued by the British Pain Society in relation to spinal cord stimulation and intrathecal drug therapy. It has also contributed to NICE's clinical guidelines on the implementation of spinal cord stimulation and influenced clinical decision making through the NHS evidence database. At an international level, our research has contributed to three sets of guidelines issued by the Polyanalgesic Consensus Conference: inflammatory mass, intrathecal drug therapy for chronic pain and recommendations for reducing mortality and morbidity of intrathecal drug therapy. The reduction of morbidity and mortality in intrathecal drug therapy is of particular significance as the reduction of harm and unnecessary complications in healthcare is of high concern to healthcare organisations worldwide.
The PCI is a carefully designed Head & Neck (H&N) cancer pre-clinic consultation checklist and comprises aspects of care and outcomes that patients might wish to raise with the multi-professional healthcare team. The PCI is an innovative and effective tool whose development has been optimised for touch screen devices. (Full details on use of the PCI is given at http://www.patient-concerns-inventory.co.uk/PCI/Home.html.) The PCI has improved patient experiences of clinic consultations, helped development of quality indicators and improved professional practice. The impact of the programme of work has led to its wider implementation nationally as exemplified by its adoption by the British Association of Head and Neck Oncologists (BAHNO), its inclusion in the National H&N Cancer dataset, its emerging use internationally, and its development in other chronic conditions.
Research undertaken at the Centre for Sports Science and Sports Medicine within the Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Institute has directly contributed to Academic Enterprise (Knowledge Transfer), international, European and national medical guidelines on soft tissue injury management, clinical practice, stimulation of international debate, and an enhanced awareness of evidence-based management of acute injuries,
A high quality clinical trial, systematic reviews and meta-analyses performed by a team at Brunel University have directly informed key international clinical practice guidelines, policies and on the management of low back pain and neuropathic pain and have been cited by users (NHS Trusts: Addenbrookes) in response to such guidelines. In this way our research is directly informing clinical practice.