Increasing physical activity in older people with chronic pain

INTERVENTION: Participants are randomly allocated to one of threw study arms. Control arm: Participants will continue to be managed via usual care but will be posted a copy of the pain toolkit, which is a simple information booklet that provides patients with tips and skills to support them to manage their chronic pain. Usual primary care management normally consists of a patient consulting their GP or practice nurse for their pain and may include advice and education, the prescription of medication and referrals to other appropriate services i.e. physiotherapy, podiatry, occupational therapy. iPOPP arm: Participants will be offered an initial appointment for a face‐to‐face consultation at their general practice with a trained HCA. At this initial consultation patients will receive a pedometer, the user guide and walking diary (as above) plus a copy of the pain toolkit. Participants will receive a second consultation either face‐to‐face or via telephone (depending on participant preference) consisting of a review of progress since session one, positive feedback in relation to effort and achievement, and possible revision of goals set. Participants will then receive the 8 weekly motivational prompts which will be in the form of a postcard, email or text. The type of prompt will be based on individual patient preference. Patients allocated to this intervention arm will also continue to be able to access usual care. Pedometer arm: Participants will receive a pedometer, a pedometer user guide, a walking diary and the pain toolkit in the post. In addition, these patients will continue to be able to access usual care. CONDITION: Topic: Primary Care, Musculoskeletal disorders, Ageing; Subtopic: Musculoskeletal (all Subtopics), Ageing, Primary care; Disease: Musculoskeletal, All Diseases, All Ageing ; Signs and Symptoms ; Musculoskeletal pain PRIMARY OUTCOME: Acceptability and feasibility of training the HCAs and delivery of the iPOPP intervention. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Not provided at time of registration. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Adults aged 65 years and over 2. Consulted at their general practice for musculoskeletal pain in one or more index sites (foot, knee, hip, back, shoulder or neck) in the last 12 months 3. Registered with one of the participating GP practices during the specified trial period for that practice 4. Chronic Pain Grade score of between 2 to 4, determined through a brief postal chronic pain screening survey 5. Able to provide full, informed, written consent