1. Background

Chronic or persistent pain affects between one-third and one-half of the population of the United Kingdom (UK), corresponding to just under 28 million adults. The aim of the study was to develop an evidence-based online toolkit to provide advice on how employees with any chronic or persistent pain condition can self-manage their condition at work. Toolkit development involved co-creation activities together with an interdisciplinary stakeholder group and expert review panel with members from the public, private and third sector. Researchers were to (i) consult with a wider range of stakeholders to establish content and format of the toolkit; (ii) identify employer provisions and challenges relating to supporting employees with chronic or persistent pain; (iii) identify key challenges and support needs of employees with chronic or persistent pain; (iv) conduct iterative expert peer review to complete co-creation of a final toolkit which would be appropriate for use by any employee across all organisation types and size.

2. Research Methods

Rigorous development processes and engagement of stakeholders is essential for development of a high-quality intervention. In a collaborative-participatory design, researchers used an Agile Methodology approach as used in other published evaluations of workplace digital interventions, to develop a digital intervention to support people at work with chronic or persistent pain. The study took place at a higher education institution in England. Development followed a 4-step process (N = 450): (Step 1) a stakeholder consultation event (n = 27); (Step 2) an online survey with employees who have persistent pain (n = 274, 18–65 years); (Step 3) an online survey with employers (n = 107; 45 SMEs (Small to Medium Enterprises), 62 large organisations); (Step 4) toolkit development with iterative expert peer review (n = 40, 13M; 27F). The 4 steps involved stakeholders from academia, healthcare and industry, as well as people with lived experience of chronic or persistent pain. Consultation activities and online survey questions were developed by the research team and were intended to inform toolkit development. Current Agile approach utilised principles of Kanban methodology in which steps 1–3 produced lists of toolkit and development tasks (allowing us to draw from a backlog) and the product (the Pain at Work (PAW) toolkit) was released to reviewers with each update, enabling iterative review. The description of the toolkit aligns with the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) Checklist). The project team had expertise in participatory approaches for digital intervention development and Agile methodology. The study was conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki and was classed as educational development and evaluation by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Nottingham Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

3. Current Discussion

To current knowledge, the PAW toolkit is the first accessible, digital resource to support employees at work who have chronic or persistent pain. It is publicly accessible, free to use and was developed through a rigorous, participatory design process involving surveys, consultations and peer review, engaging employees who live with chronic or persistent pain, employers and stakeholders with expertise in workplace issues and/or the management of pain. The toolkit is perceived to be relevant to employees from any size or type of organisation and addresses a clear need identified through review of evidence, stakeholder consultation and surveys with employees and employers.

4. Conclusions

Efforts to support self-management of chronic or persistent pain are increasingly important, particularly due to the global work impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Employers do not currently routinely provide guidance or support for staff with chronic or persistent pain. The PAW toolkit is a new resource to support employees with managing chronic pain at work, co-created with healthcare professionals, employers, and people with persistent pain. The PAW toolkit can be widely implemented to support employees with chronic or persistent pain in the workplace. Disability policies alongside line manager education and training are recommended to foster a psychological safe work environment, maximise employee support and facilitate appropriate actions. Further research could explore the impact of the PAW toolkit on employee pain, wellbeing and support, and organisational outcomes.