Author name: Brendan Mouatt
Author biography:
Brendan is a PhD Candidate in the Persistent Pain Research Group at the University of South Australia. Brendan’s research investigates the implicit and explicit factors occurring during clinical interactions for pain and their influence on patient outcomes, perceptions, and behaviours.
Author contact details: brendan@noigroup.com
44th Annual Australian Pain Society (APS) Meeting
The 44th annual APS meeting was – as usual – one of my favourite scientific gatherings of the year, supported by an incredible community of individuals. I had the opportunity to present some of my PhD work that delved into the acceptability, credibility, and burden of an online vignette study. Vignette studies are brief, descriptive narratives used to examine participants’ reactions or decisions in hypothetical scenarios. Our findings showed the scenarios were largely credible and acceptable, with minimal burden. Elements such as videos, actual clinicians, and guidance proved beneficial for participants to engage as if they were in the scenario. There were no significant demographic differences between those who completed and those who did not, except for non-binary individuals, who were less inclined to complete the study, prompting consideration for enhancing inclusivity in future research.
Following the free paper session, it was wonderful to converse with several delegates who found the methodology intriguing and posed insightful questions about its application. These studies often inform decision-making for funding and treatments; thus, obtaining higher quality data with a representative sample is crucial. Presenting during this free paper session provided an excellent opportunity to emphasise this importance.
As always, there were numerous engaging topical sessions and plenary talks. Some noteworthy highlights included Ms Natalie Barthel, Dr Nathalia Costa, Ms Miriam Dillon, and Dr Leanne Rath, who led a topical session on understanding and navigating uncertainty in persistent pain. The session underscored the necessity of acknowledging uncertainty for both patients and practitioners, emphasising the potential harm of neglecting this aspect. Ms Barthel powerfully exemplified this by sharing her experience with persistent pain. A nice paper by Dr Costa and colleagues that explores this in the context of back pain is HERE.
Equally fascinating was Professor Louise Sharpe’s discussion of her work on cognitive bias modification, using a simple intervention (which patients can completely undertake remotely via an app) that appears to have profound impacts on pain interference and intensity at two-weeks follow-up. A link to her paper can be found HERE. Talks like these showcased innovation, scalability, and potentially impactful benefits, which felt particularly significant this year.
Beyond the academic agenda, Darwin provided a unique backdrop for the event. Any conference where shorts, boat shoes, and short-sleeved shirts are appropriate receives a big tick in my book. The Gala was a highlight, as always with the APS. Set on the waterfront outside the conference centre, I wasn’t as bold as many who ventured onto the dance floor, considering the humidity had already reached close to 100%. However, the strong sense of community that always characterises the Gala was palpable. Although it’s a chance to relax, the Gala always leaves you feeling more connected, and your work more appreciated, even if you attempt to ruin this with some sub-par karaoke skills at the after-party!
Next year, the conference moves to Melbourne. Without a doubt, I’ll be there, hoping to present more of my PhD work while seizing the chance to reconnect with the numerous individuals from recent years who also regard this conference as the highlight of the year. I anticipate meeting new people, encountering students with fresh, thought-provoking ideas, all while exploring Melbourne’s alleyways.
To all the event organisers at APS: Well done on once again creating a fantastic program that supports researchers and clinicians.
Declaration: Brendan Mouatt receives renumeration from Noigroup for management and provision of education content. Brendan is supported by a Leadership Investigator Grant from the National Health & Medical Research Council of Australia to GL Moseley (ID 1178444).
Australian Pain Society 