ORCID

Abstract

IntroductionThe POPPY study is a mixed-method, co-design study which aims to develop the content, implementation strategies, service and professional guidance to support older people with frailty to better manage their pain and reduce its negative impact on their lives.Methods and AnalysisThe study will have oversight from a bespoke Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) group and an independent steering committee.The study will comprise of four phases: • Phase 1. Research evidence and information ?synthesis/mapping from randomised controlled trials of multicomponent pain management programmes and psychological therapies targetinged community-dwelling older people. • Phase 2. Qualitative interviews with approximately 30 community-dwelling older people (≥75 years) living with frailty and persistent pain, including some dyadic interviews with a spouse or unpaid carer. Care home residents, dementia diagnosis or a current cancer diagnosis will be excluded. Cancer survivors, ≥ 5 years cancer free, and not undergoing active cancer treatment can participate.• Phase 3. Qualitative interviews with healthcare professionals (HCPs) working within a variety of pain service types. Between 5 – 8 HCPs per service and up to 12 services including primary care, secondary care and voluntary sector. • Phase 4. Co-design workshops with older people, HCPs and commissioners. Inclusion criteria (Phase 2) will be community dwelling older people (≥75 years) living with frailty and persistent pain.Exclusion criteria (phase 2): Care home residents, dementia diagnosis or a current cancer diagnosis. Cancer survivors, ≥ 5 years cancer free, and not undergoing active cancer treatment can participate. Data analysis: Phase 1 ?narrative synthesis. Phase 2 analysis will use grounded theory analytic techniques and with simultaneous data collection. Phase 3 will use thematic analysis.Ethics and DisseminationApproval was gained on 28 April 2022 by The Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee. Consent is sought if an individual is willing to participate in Phases 2 and 3, and has capacity to provide informed consent. Results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed scientific journals, conferences and via relevant professional networks. Strengths and Limitations• The POPPY study will use a mixed method co-design approach, working with varied stakeholders to develop guidance to enable services to support older people with frailty to manage their pain. • A bespoke Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) group will contribute to all phases of the study .• The study will recruit underserved communities including those with different levels of frailty. It will include people from different geographical locations from urban and rural settings, spanning the least deprived and most deprived communities.• A range of different types of pain services will be invited to participate, including primary care, secondary care, specialist tertiary services and those with a voluntary sector component.• Older people with a diagnosis of dementia, a current cancer diagnosis, or those living in a care home will not be eligible.

Publication Date

2026-05-31

Publication Title

Health and Social Care Delivery Research

Volume

14

Issue

18

ISSN

2755-0060

Acceptance Date

2026-01-01

Deposit Date

2026-06-01

Funding

This synopsis presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme as award number NIHR131319.

First Page

1

Last Page

16

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