Sydney native researching chronic pain in seniors
Seeking participants for program
Ainsley MacIntyre has always felt a strong bond with the older generation.
Growing up in Sydney, the 24-year-old said she had a very close relationship with her four grandparents.
“I’ve just always had kind of this soft spot for older adults,” said the master’s student who specializes in gerontology at the University of Regina.
“I’d be with my mom in a public place or something and I would always be the one if they looked like they needed help, I’d be the first one to offer a hand.”
So naturally, after completing a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience at Dalhousie University in Halifax, MacIntyre began the scientific study of old age.
She is now leading a study on chronic pain in adults.
For the program, MacIntyre is seeking participants 65 and over who have experienced pain lasting more than three months.
The course is offered online, Sydney native and master’s student in gerontology, Ainsley MacIntyre, is looking for adults age 65 and over to enrol a pain self-management course.
although workbooks are available for anyone without computer access who wishes to take part.
“The goal of it is to provide education and guidance on techniques to manage symptoms of pain,” said MacIntyre.
“The feedback that I get is a lot of people who are enrolling have either never really heard of pain self-management, have never tried it, or are very dependent on medication and they want to try something new.”
MacIntyre said the eightweek course offers participants new techniques.
Additional resources are available for participants who’ve experienced panic attacks or sleep problems.
However, people suffering from severe anxiety or depression will be turned away because MacIntyre is not a clinician.
MacIntyre said many people do not realize the correlation between a person’s thoughts and their pain experience.
She said the course will provide instruction on how to best avoid negative self-talk.
“I just really hope that those who do enrol do gain some knowledge in order to help deal with their chronic pain. I know for some people it can be very debilitating,” she said.
“Your brain is actually the main player in determining
(the severity) of your pain that’s why I think that it’s so important to have those helpful and positive thoughts when dealing with things such as chronic pain.
She is working under the guidance of Thomas Hadjistavropoulos, a psychology professor and director of the Centre on Aging and Health at the University of Regina.
MacIntyre expects to finished data collection for her research by the end of the summer.
To enrol in the course, go to https://programs.onlinetherapyuser.ca/pcoa/paincourse-for-older-adults/.
For more information, MacIntyre can be reached by phone at 306-585-4428, or by email at aam549@uregina.ca.