Culturally relevant pain solutions After training as a musculoskeletal physiotherapist in India, Dr Saurab Sharma returned to Nepal to treat patients but
Saurab has since translated and validated 29 pain assessment tools for Nepal and developed educational resources now adapted in four other countries. “Education and self-management are recommended by most global back pain guidelines but are rarely used,” Saurab noted. He’s now developing interventions to treat pain in Australia’s diverse communities, including Nepali, Chinese, Indian, and Vietnamese populations.”
quickly realised that western pain assessment methods didn’t fit his community. One major issue was the numeric pain rating scale, which many Nepali patients struggled with due to unfamiliarity with numbers. “Not many people here take surveys in their day-to- day life. For many, it’s the first time,” Saurab explained. He also noticed a lack of local research on musculoskeletal pain, particularly back pain. To address this, he collaborated with Professor Mark Jensen, a prominent pain researcher, and later earned a PhD in New Zealand. Now Chief Scientist for Clinical Research at the Pain Management and Research Centre at Royal North Shore Hospital, Saurab emphasises the need for more pain research in low- and middle-income countries, as well as culturally relevant interventions for diverse communities in Australia. His research in Nepal found that the numeric pain scale had the highest error rate, while patients preferred the “Faces rating scale.” World Menopause Day at NSLHD NSLHD has opened a Menopause Hub dedicated to treating individuals with severe, complex, and/or prolonged menopause symptoms. Minister for Women, Elizabeth Harrison, officially opened the hub. The Embrace Gender Equity Employee Network marked World Menopause Day 2024 with a panel discussion on menopause as a workplace issue. NSLHD Chief Executive, Adjunct Professor Anthony M. Schembri AM, emphasised the need for gender equity and support for employees experiencing menopause. “With 77 per cent of our employees being women and the average
Dr Saurab Sharma
Panel member Candice Clayton-Both said “Menopause is everyone’s issue; it’s a workplace issue.” The panel included Katherine Baychek, registered nurse; Candice Clayton-Both; Dr Shejil Kumar, endocrinology fellow; Grace Molloy, CEO of Menopause Friendly Australia; and Dr Danielle Robson, Clinical Lead of the NSLHD Menopause Hub. Dr Kumar also shared research on improving bone and muscle health in postmenopausal women.
age of menopause at 51, many will experience menopause while still in the workforce. Addressing it as a workplace issue can reduce stigma, improve productivity, and create a more inclusive environment,” he said. Led by Director of People and Culture Paula Williscroft, the panel referenced a 2021 study showing that 83 per cent of women said menopause impacted their work, but only 70 per cent felt comfortable discussing it with managers.
Minister for Women Jodie Harrison (middle) visited the Menopause Hub for Menopause Day
WWW.NSLHD.HEALTH.NSW.GOV.AU
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