Research User Group Newsletter Keele University RUG Spring / Summer edition | Page 7

STarT Back included in the     D NICE Guidelines eveloped here at Keele with RUG involvement, the STarT Back approach is a  way for GPs and physiotherapists to categorise patients with low back pain into low, medium or high risk groups using a special computer tool.  This categorising is called stratified care and is a way of ensuring that low back pain patients receive the most appropriate treatment, which is matched to their personal level of symptoms rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach. In November the Research Institute received the exciting news that the tool has been officially recommended in the The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Low back Pain Guidance. NICE’s role is to improve outcomes for people using the NHS and other public health and social care services across the UK, by producing evidence- based guidance and advice for health care practitioners. For more information on STarT Back, visit www.keele.ac.uk/sbst/ or www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG59/chapter/Recom mendations#assessment-of-low-back-pain-and- sciatica Mental Health     Awareness Day  A mental health awareness day was held here at the Keele University Sports Hall in March  2017. The event was attended by several third sector organisations and Keele student mental health support groups, highlighting the invaluable work they do within the community.  "It is always heartwarming to meet others passionate about mental health care and all those I met seemed very interested in the work of our own RUG.” - Robert Taylor, PPIE Volunteer As some of you may already know, the Research Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences now has a dedicated mental health research theme, which is rapidly growing.  Current projects include investigations into the experiences of dementia, anxiety and depression, perinatal anxiety, schizophrenia, and dementia and pain. If you have experience of ANY mental health condition, either directly or through a caring role or family member perhaps, and you would like to be involved in mental health research here, please contact Adele Higginbottom ([email protected]) or Laura Campbell ([email protected]) for more information. iPCHS NEWS 7