The MIDAS Programme

Hello and welcome to this short video about the Keele MIDAS research program. My name is Professor K. Stevenson, and it's my pleasure to tell you a little bit about this exciting project that I'm involved with.

The MIDAS project is a five-year research program being led by Keele University. It's publicly funded research aimed at improving the treatment of painful musculoskeletal conditions, such as back and neck pain, knee and shoulder problems, and osteoarthritis. The team is led by Dr. George Pete, a professor in clinical epidemiology at Keele University, who has joined us today.

Hi George, thank you for joining us. Could you tell us more about the MIDAS project, its aims, objectives, and what it's seeking to understand?

Hi there, Kate. Through this MIDAS study, we aim to improve musculoskeletal health and care in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire. An important part of this is reducing inequalities in pain across this region. Here's an example: a local map based on a survey we conducted in 2017, where 4,000 local people told us about their health. It shows how many adults have severe chronic pain that regularly interferes with their daily activities. What we learned is that about one in eight adults suffer from this common and serious problem. However, some neighbourhoods and communities have much higher rates than others, up to four times as much. With the added impact of COVID, these inequalities could widen further.

George, that's a significant difference. Do we know why this is happening? Is it because of where people live, social deprivation, or a higher elderly population?

We know that back pain, joint problems, and muscle problems affect men and women of all ages, caused by various factors throughout our lives, from injury to illness, working conditions, and lifestyles. What's crucial is preventing these issues from becoming long-term disabilities. Accessible, effective, and properly resourced healthcare services play a vital role, particularly in serving communities with the greatest need. But effective prevention goes beyond what doctors and healthcare professionals can offer.

Thank you for sharing that, George. Now, let's bring in Mike, who has lived experience with musculoskeletal problems. Mike, can you tell us why this project is so important from a patient's perspective?

Thanks, Kate. What people might be surprised to know is that these problems are more common than they think, with as many as half of all adults in our region affected each year. While most cases are short-lived, many, like me, experience recurrent and long-term pain. In fact, these problems have a greater impact on people's work and daily lives than almost any other group of health conditions. Personally, it has affected my legs, making gardening and looking after our allotment challenging, and standing at sporting events uncomfortable.

Thank you, Mike, for sharing your perspective. Clearly, these problems have a significant impact on people's lives. When we look at George's map, we can see the massive inequalities across different parts of our communities that we need to address.

Now, let's bring George back to explain how the MIDAS project aims to address these inequalities.

Kate, the MIDAS project is all about data and action. We've used information from surveys to highlight where the need is greatest. During COVID, people argued that data saves lives. Well, in this research project, data will improve lives. It will be the foundation for better services, care, prevention, and the prospect of better health for all. Without data, the long-term pain and its effects on our communities might remain invisible, misunderstood, and ignored.

That sounds promising, George. How are you planning to collect this data?

We're conducting three separate studies to gather the data. The first involves partnering with dozens of GP practices in the area and asking their patients to complete short questionnaires when they seek treatment for musculoskeletal problems. The second study follows a similar approach but collaborates with local musculoskeletal healthcare services and their patients. The third study invites thousands of local people to complete questionnaires from their homes, creating a detailed population survey on musculoskeletal problems, much like the national health survey but with more focus on these issues.

That's great, George. But how long will all of this take, and what's the ultimate goal?

The project will run for the next four years, and the ultimate aim is to link data from different sources to provide a reliable, comprehensive picture of musculoskeletal health and care in the region. These data will be analysed by NHS analysts, such as Dominic Ellington, who is partnering with us on this study.

Thank you, George. That's fantastic. Dominic, can you explain how this publicly funded research will benefit the NHS in the future?

Certainly, Kate. Currently, I produce graphs for NHS managers and senior leaders about how our musculoskeletal services are performing. However, I lack detailed data about the musculoskeletal health of our local population and how these problems are managed across different GP practices. Only with high-quality data from this research program can we truly understand and analyse the context in which our NHS services operate. This will allow us to make more informed decisions about effective treatments for patients and reduce the inequalities George showed us earlier.

Thank you, Dominic. Your insights are invaluable. I'd like to thank George and Mike for their contributions to this video. Lastly, thank you to everyone for watching. Please like our video, leave your comments, and visit our MIDAS website for more information on the project. Thank you.