Dr Bernadette Brady
Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist, Physiotherapy Department & Department of Pain Medicine, NSW Health, Sydney, Australia
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Dr Bernadette Brady is a musculoskeletal and pain physiotherapist who holds a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapy and Clinical Research Fellowship in South Western Sydney Local Health District in Australia. Dr Brady completed her PhD at Western Sydney University investigating culturally responsive approaches to pain management. Her research led to the design and implementation of culturally adapted pain management programs for people from Arabic, Assyrian and Vietnamese communities and was recognised as a winner of a NSW Health Award in 2017. Through her fellowship, conjoint and clinical roles, Bernadette is pursuing a program of research seeking to improve outcomes for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities with chronic conditions using codesign and community participatory methodologies. |
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Why People with Chronic Pain Attend the ED
Chronic pain presentations account for 10–16% of Emergency Department (ED) visits, creating significant pressure on stretched health resources. While pain intensity is the most cited explanation driving ED attendance, research suggests the factors underpinning ED attendance are more complex. This presentation will draw on the experiences of a culturally and socially diverse sample of adults presenting to an ED for chronic pain to explore contributors to escalating distress. By contrasting the experiences of people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds with those identifying with an Anglo-Australian culture, this presentation will examine the influence of culture and social positioning on a patient's help-seeking decisions, examine the use of ED-developed pain management plans and reflect on factors contributing to patient engagement/non-engagement with post-discharge recommendations.
Optimising Pain Management with Culturally Diverse Communities
Cultural identity is a critical part of an individual’s worldview that shapes the experience of pain, constructed from the beliefs, values, behaviours and norms of the societies with which one aligns. Cross-cultural studies demonstrate that definitions, descriptions and perceptions of pain and pain control are culturally specific, yet there is limited evidence guiding the integration of culture in the development of pain management plans. This presentation will explore ethnocultural influences on the experience of pain, how this manifests in a clinical setting and discuss key strategies healthcare providers can adopt to promote more equitable pain management.
