Edel O’Hagan

RESEARCHER PROFILE

PhD Candidate

e.ohagan@neura.edu.au

Pain Chronic pain Back pain

Edel O’Hagan is an experienced clinical physiotherapist and early career researcher. Her clinical career over 15 years has included roles in the public and private settings in Ireland, New Zealand and Australia. Edel completed her Research Masters at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), Sydney in 2016 with Dr James McAuley and Dr Markus Huebscher.  Edel’s research includes the first systematic review of hypnotics for postoperative pain, which identified that hypnotics should be considered for the management of postoperative pain. She completed a cohort study which has shown that reduced slow wave sleep (SWS) is associated with subsequent high pain intensity and worse sleep quality for the same night. She conducted a pilot randomised controlled trial of a hypnotic for acute low back pain which identified recruitment barriers to address in a large trial.

Edel’s research has presented at national (APS) and major international conferences (International Low Back and Neck Pain Forum, International Association for the Study of Pain).

Her more recent research concerns the attitudes and beliefs of health care professionals and the general public toward treatment selection in patients presenting with low back pain.

Edel is a part of the organising committee for SPRiNG, Sydney Pain Researchers: the Next Generation.

Follow Edel’s work below and here: Google Scholar and ORCID.

Projects Edel O’Hagan is currently involved with

CURRENT PROJECTS

BOOST – Repetitive transcranial magnetic simulation to bolster analgesic effects of quadriceps str


WEI-JU CHANG, DR SIOBHAN SCHABRUN, DR NAHIAN CHOWDHURY, DR HARRISON FINN, EDEL O’HAGAN, RODRIGO RIZZO, EMILY SI

Osteoarthritis affects more than 20% of Australians aged over 60. The knee joint is commonly affected, causing persistent pain and difficulty in daily activities. Although exercise is the cornerstone of conservative treatment for knee osteoarthritis and recommended in all international guidelines, its effects are, at best, moderate.

BOOST is a ‘proof of concept’ study to explore the use of a novel intervention combining non-invasive brain stimulation and exercise therapy in people with knee osteoarthritis. This intervention applies repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, a safe and painless non-invasive brain stimulation, targeting specifically the brain region involved in pain processing and motor function to enhance the effects of exercise therapy.

The study might be a good fit for you if you:

  • Are aged ≥ 50 years with knee osteoarthritis.
  • Have knee pain for more than 3 months and on most days of the past month.
  • Have average pain intensity higher than 4 out 10 in the past week.
  • Do not have previous knee joint replacement or high tibial osteotomy.
  • Do not knee surgery or joint injection in past 6 months.
  • Do not have planned surgery in the next 9 months.
  • Do not use oral corticosteroids currently or in the past 4 weeks.
  • Do not have systemic arthritis, previous knee fracture or malignancy.
  • Do not have other condition affecting lower limb function.
  • Do not participate in knee strengthening exercise in past 6 months.
  • Do not have a loss of sensation of the affected leg.
  • Do not have neurological or psychiatric disorders.
  • Do not have contraindications to brain stimulation such as epilepsy, metal implant in the skull.
  • Do not use neuroactive drugs.

If you are eligible and agree to participate, you will be asked to attend 2 sessions per week for 6 weeks (each session includes 15 minutes of active or sham brain stimulation plus 30 minutes one-to-one exercise by a physiotherapist); 2 testing sessions (about 1.5 hours per session) before the start and after the completion of the intervention. All sessions will take place in a laboratory at NeuRA.

If you would like more information or are interested in being part of the study, please contact:

Name: Dr Wei-Ju Chang

Email: w.chang@neura.edu.au

Phone: 02 9399 1260

This research is being funded by the ANZMUSC Clinical Trial Network.

 

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BOOST – Repetitive transcranial magnetic simulation to bolster analgesic effects of quadriceps strengthening exercise in knee osteoarthritis

Medicines for Back Pain


DR MARKUS HüBSCHER, PROFESSOR JAMES MCAULEY, DR MATTHEW K BAGG, MICHAEL WEWEGE, MICHAEL FERRARO, RODRIGO RIZZO, HAYLEY LEAKE, PAULINE ZAHARA, EDEL O’HAGAN, DR AIDAN CASHIN, THIAGO FOLLY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR SYLVIA GUSTIN, DR MATTHEW JONES, DR MARKUS HUEBSCHER

Medicines are the most common treatment for back pain. The aim of this program of research is to improve our understanding of the clinical effects of medicines.

Studies currently in progress:

  1. Scoping review of paracetamol, NSAIDs and opioid analgesics for chronic low back pain (led by Matthew K Bagg). The objective of this study is to identify and describe the characteristics of available clinical trials of commonly used analgesic medicines for chronic low back pain. This information will inform the design and conduct of other studies in the research program.
  2. Paracetamol, NSAIDs and opioid analgesics for chronic low back pain: a network meta-analysis (led by Matthew K Bagg). The objective of this study is to produce information about the clinical effects of available analgesic medicines for chronic low back pain. This information will be available in a Cochrane review to assist clinical prescription of medicines. The protocol is published and available here.
  3. Prescribing practices of medicines for adults with low back pain: a systematic review (led by Michael Wewege). The objective of this study is to determine how different medicines are prescribed to adults with low back pain and how this differs across countries. The protocol for this study is being developed.
  4. Analgesic medicines for adults with low back pain: a network meta-analysis (led by Michael Wewege). The objective of this study is to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of a range of analgesic medicines for adults across different classifications of low back pain. The protocol for this study has been submitted for publication.
  5. Muscle relaxant medicines for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis (led by Aidan Cashin and Thiago Folly). The objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness and tolerability of muscle relaxant medicines for adults with low back pain. The protocol is available here.
  6. Novel biologic medicines for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis (led by Rodrigo Rizzo). The objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness and tolerability of novel biologic medicines for adults with low back pain. The protocol is available here.

Completed studies:

  1. Evaluation of the impact of unpublished data from clinical trial registries on the effects of medicines for low back pain (led by Matthew Bagg). The objective of this study was to evaluate whether there is a difference between clinical trial data that are published and those that are not published. The findings are published in the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology.
  2. Antidepressant medicines for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis (led by Michael Ferraro). The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness and tolerability of antidepressant medicines for adults with low back pain. The findings have been submitted for publication. The protocol is available here.

Medicines for Back Pain – Publications:

  • Bagg MK, McLachlan AJ, Maher CG, Kamper SJ, Williams CM, Henschke N, Wand BM, Moseley GL, Hübscher M, O’Connell NE, van Tulder MW, Nikolakopoulou A, McAuley JH. (2018). Paracetamol, NSAIDS and opioid analgesics for chronic low back pain: a network meta-analysis [Protocol]. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 6. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013045. PMCID: PMC6513465
  • Bagg MK, O’Hagan E, Zahara P, Wand BM, Hübscher M, Moseley GL, McAuley JH. (2020). Reviews may overestimate the effectiveness of medicines for back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. doi: 10.1016/ j.jclinepi.2019.12.006. PMID: 31816418

Medicines for Back Pain – Registrations of Study Protocols:

  • Folly T, Bagg MK, Wewege M, Ferraro MC, Schabrun S, Gustin SM, Day R, McAuley JH. (2019) UMbRELLA: Understanding efficacy and safety of Muscle RELaxant medicines for Low back pain – systematic Literature review and meta-Analysis (protocol).Open Science Framework, available at: https://osf.io/xuw5h
  • Rizzo RN, Bagg MK, Ferraro MC, Wewege M, Cashin A, Leake HB, O’Hagan E, Jones M, McAuley JH. (2020). Efficacy and safety of medicines targeting neurotrophic factors in the management of low back pain: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. Open Science Framework, available at: https://osf.io/zax6d
  • Ferraro MC, Bagg MK, McAuley JH. (2019). RADICAL: Systematic Review of Anti-Depressant Medicines if Considered Analgesics for Low Back Pain (protocol). Open Science Framework, available at: https://osf.io/cedm3

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Medicines for Back Pain

Social Media for Low Back Pain


DR ADRIAN TRAEGER, EDEL O’HAGAN, PROFESSOR JAMES MCAULEY

Social media is a potentially powerful tool to provide a message of education and reassurance to the general public about low back pain. This project will use social media to educate the general public about low back pain and promote self-management.

The project involves three stages. Firstly, we will conduct a content analysis to gain an insight into social media users’ perceptions and understanding about low back pain. This could determine whether social media could serve as an educational tool through which accurate information related to low back pain could be disseminated to the public.

Second, a recent Delphi survey of 150 low back pain researchers identified 30 key messages considered to be important for the general public to know about LBP. These statements provide evidence-based information on the diagnosis, prognosis and management of LBP and are intended to educate, reassure and promote self-management. We will investigate the attitude of the general public towards these messages.

Third, working in conjunction with a media company Y&R, we will design and test a social media campaign to encourage self-management for people with low back pain.

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Social Media for Low Back Pain

RESOLVE Trial for Chronic Low Back Pain


DR MARKUS HüBSCHER, DR HOPIN LEE, RODRIGO RIZZO, PROFESSOR JAMES MCAULEY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR SYLVIA GUSTIN, PROFESSOR LORIMER MOSELEY, DR MARKUS HUEBSCHER, DR MATTHEW K BAGG, DR AIDAN CASHIN, EDEL O’HAGAN, HAYLEY LEAKE, ANIKA HAIGH
For people with long term back pain that is not getting better. We are testing two pain treatment programs that target the brain, for people with chronic low back pain.

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RESOLVE Trial for Chronic Low Back Pain

SLEEPain


DR MARKUS HüBSCHER, PROFESSOR JAMES MCAULEY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR SYLVIA GUSTIN, EDEL O’HAGAN
For people with back pain who are having trouble with their sleep. We are testing whether a simple sleep tablet will help people reduce their pain and sleep better.

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SLEEPain

PAIN REVOLUTION

SPRING SOCIAL

SYDNEY SCIENCE FESTIVAL- BEHIND THE BRAINS

SELF-MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS TO LOWER BACK PAIN, NEURA NEWSLETTER 2020

RESEARCH TEAM

DR SAURAB SHARMA Postdoctoral Research Fellow : saurab.sharma@neura.edu.au

YANNICK GILANYI Honours Student : y.gilanyi@neura.edu.au

BRISHNA SHAH Honours Student : b.shah@neura.edu.au

JACK DEVONSHIRE Research Assistant : j.devonshire@neura.edu.au

HARRISON HANSFORD Doctoral Candidate : h.hansford@neura.edu.au

DR MARKUS HÜBSCHER Postdoctoral Research Fellow : m.huebscher@neura.edu.au

DR ADRIAN TRAEGER Postdoctoral Research Fellow : a.traeger@neura.edu.au

MICHAEL FERRARO Doctoral Candidate : 02 9399 1049
: m.ferraro@neura.edu.au

RODRIGO RIZZO PhD Candidate : r.rizzo@neura.edu.au

HAYLEY LEAKE Doctoral Candidate

DR MATTHEW JONES Postdoctoral Research Fellow : matthew.jones@unsw.edu.au

MICHAEL WEWEGE Doctoral Candidate : m.wewege@neura.edu.au

THIAGO FOLLY Research Assistant

ANIKA HAIGH Research Assistant : a.haigh@neura.edu.au

PAULINE ZAHARA Clinical Trial Manager

DR IAN SKINNER Postdoctoral Research Fellow

DR HOPIN LEE Postdoctoral Research Fellow

DR MATTHEW K BAGG Postdoctoral Research Fellow : m.bagg@neura.edu.au

DR AIDAN CASHIN Postdoctoral Research Fellow : 02 9399 1870
: a.cashin@neura.edu.au

SUPERVISORS

PROFESSOR JAMES MCAULEY Senior Research Scientist and Group Leader, NeuRA Director, Centre for Pain IMPACT Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney

Further information about Edel O’Hagan

RELATED INFORMATION

Qualifications

  • Master of Science (Research), UNSW
  • Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Hons), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Awards and Scholarships

  • 2018: Knowledge Translation
  • 2018: L’Oréal Women in Science Mentee program
  • 2017: PhD Scholarship – Australian Research Training Program Scholarship. Investigator: Edel O’Hagan
  • 2017: Top-Up Scholarship – Neuroscience Research Australia. Investigator: Edel O’Hagan
  • 2017: PRSS

Conference Presentations

  • O’Hagan ET, Traeger AT, Bunzli S, Leake HB, Wand BM, Schabrun SM, O’Neill S, Harris IA, McAuley JH. What are you posting? What do people talk about on social media relative to low back pain? A content analysis. Australian Pain Society 41st Annual Scientific Meeting, Virtual Meeting, April 2021. Poster presentation
  • O’Hagan ET, Skinner IW, Jones MD, Karran EL, Traeger AT, Wand BM, Schabrun SM, O’Neill S, Harris IA, McAuley JH. The development and clinimetric evaluation of the AxEL-Q (Attitude toward Education and advice for Low-back-pain Questionnaire): A new patient-reported outcome to understand attitudes of the community toward self-management of low back pain. Australian Pain Society 41st Annual Scientific Meeting. Virtual Meeting. April 2021. Poster presentation
  • O’Hagan E, Hübscher M, Alsaadi S, Hush J, McAuley JH. Does Sleep Quality Cause Low Back Pain? Australian Pain Society, 38th Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney, April 2018. Poster presentation
  • O’Hagan E, Hübscher M , Grunstein R , Miller C, Gordon C, Gustin S, McAuley JH. SLEEPain: Managing Sleep with Zopiclone in participants with low back pain: A feasibility Study. International Back and Neck Pain Forum, Oslo, Norway. September 2017. Poster presentation
  • O’Hagan E, Klein D, Camfferman D. Sleep and Pain: A Complex Interaction. Australian Pain Society 37th Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide, April 2017. Topical Concurrent Session
  • O’Hagan E, Hübscher M , Grunstein R , Miller C, Gordon C, Gustin S, McAuley JH. SLEEPain: Managing Sleep with Zopiclone in participants with low back pain: A feasibility Study. Australian Pain Society 37th Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide, April 2017. Poster presentation
  • O’Hagan E, Hübscher M, McAuley JH. Sleep and Pain: Relationship and Management Prince of Wales Clinical School Annual Seminar Day, Sydney, October 2016. Thesis presentation.
  • O’Hagan E, Hübscher M, Alsaadi S, Hush J, McAuley JH. Sleep Quality in people with Low Back pain, does polysomnography correlate? International Association for the study of Pain: 16th World Congress on Pain, Yokohama, September 2016. Poster presentation
  • O’Hagan E, Hübscher M, Miller C, Gordon C, Gustin S, McAuley JH. Do Hypnotic medications improve post-operative pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Association for the study of Pain: 16th World Congress on Pain, Yokohama, September 2016. Poster presentation
  • O’Hagan E, Hübscher M, Alsaadi S, Hush J, McAuley JH. What factors determine sleep quality, in people with low back pain? The Back and Neck Pain Forum, Buxton, June 2016. Poster presentation
  • O’Hagan E, Hübscher M, Miller C, Gordon C, Gustin S, McAuley JH. Do hypnotic Medications improve post-surgical outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Pain Adelaide, Adelaide, April 2016. Poster presentation
  • O’Hagan E, Hübscher M, Miller C, Gordon C, Gustin S, McAuley JH. Do hypnotic medications improve post-surgical outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Australian Pain Society, 36th Annual Scientific Meeting, Perth, March 2016. Poster and rapid oral presentation
  • O’Hagan E, Hübscher M, Miller C, Gordon C, Gustin S, McAuley JH. Do hypnotic outcomes: A systematic review. Prince of Wales Clinical School Annual Seminar Day, Sydney, October 2015. Poster presentation

Invited Presentations

  • McAuley JH, O’Keeffe M, O’Hagan E, Traeger AC. ANZBACK annual summit. Research theme update/discussions: Public education & media. Held via Zoom, November 2020
  • O’Hagan E.Behind the brains, bringing pain research to the next generation. Sydney Science Festival, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, August 2017
  • O’Hagan E.SLEEPain- managing sleep to decrease pain. Sleep and Circadian Research seminar, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, September 2015

Other Publications

  • O’Hagan ET, Leake HB, Heathcote LC, Stanton TR, Moseley GL (2021) Enhancing a therapeutic alliance with validation. JOSPT (in press)
  • Cashin A, Lee H, Bagg MK, Wand BM, O’Hagan ET, Rizzo R, Stanton T, Moseley GL, McAuley JH. (2021) Investigating the mechanisms of graded sensorimotor precision training in adults with chronic non-specific low back pain: Protocol for causal mediation analysis of the RESOLVE trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research Protocols (in press)
  • O’Hagan ET, Rizzo RNR, Wewege MA, McAuley JH, Jones MD. (2021) Put your trainer on hold; the causal relationship between physical inactivity and severe COVID-19 is still not clear. BJSM Published online April 2021
  • Cashin AG, Wand BM, O’Connell NE, Lee H, Bagg MK, O’Hagan ET, Maher CG, Furlan AD, Tulder MW, McAuley JH (2020) Pharmacological treatments for lowback pain in adults: an overview of Cochrane Reviews Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013815

PUBLICATIONS

What do patients value learning about pain? A mixed-methods survey on the relevance of target concepts after pain science education.

Leake HB, Moseley GL, Stanton TR, O'Hagan ET, Heathcote LC
Pain. 2021 Feb;():. doi: 33960326. Epub 2021 May.

What do people post on social media relative to low back pain? A content analysis of Australian data.

O'Hagan ET, Traeger AC, Bunzli S, Leake HB, Schabrun SM, Wand BM, O'Neill S, Harris IA, McAuley JH
Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2021 Aug;54():102402. doi: 34058728. Epub 2021 Jun.

Low back pain is the leading contributor to the global disability burden. The Global Spine Care Initiative (GSCI) recommend patient-centred care to stem the cost of low back pain. One way to enhance patient-centred care is by better understanding what is relevant for people with low back pain. Exploring social media posts about low back pain could offer this insight and provide valuable information for health care professionals to facilitate active participation in patient-centred care. Posts about low back pain on social media often seem to suggest that the person posting is seeking validation. Responses typically express sympathy or a shared experience; yet, there is no response to most social media posts about low back pain.

Reassurance for patients with non-specific conditions - a user's guide.

Traeger AC, O'Hagan ET, Cashin A, McAuley JH
Braz J Phys Ther. ;21(1):1-6. doi: 28442069. Epub 2016 Apr.

Targeted reassurance, including enhanced, prognosis-specific education, could optimize reassurance and possibly prevent disabling symptoms.

View all publications