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Contact Details

Phone
+64 4 832 3256
Email
hemakumar.devan@otago.ac.nz
Position
Lecturer
Department
Department of Medicine (Wellington)
Qualifications
BPT (Chennai) MPhty (Distn)(Otago) PhD (Otago)
Research summary
Chronic pain, Self-management, Behavioural Intervention Technologies, Knowledge Translation
Teaching
Undergraduate and postgraduate research supervision
Memberships

Leadership roles (Invited):

  • 2021 – current NZ representative to lead the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) – Young Pain Leaders Global Taskforce
  • 2018 – current Council member, NZ Pain Society (Lead patient advisory group establishment and social media communications)
  • 2020 – current Steering committee member, Pain@Otago Research Theme (Lead Early Career Research initiatives)
  • 2020 – current Management committee member, Division of Health Sciences, Otago Early-Mid Career Researchers’ Group (Lead Social Media and Science Communication initiatives)

Research

Dr Devan's primary research interest is to foster self-management support to empower people with persistent pain and their whānau (family and significant others).The programme has three main themes.

The first theme is a digital health programme (Pain BITS – Behavioural Intervention Technologies), to support self-management via technology, which involves co-creation of digital resources (website, apps and social media) by and for people living with persistent pain.

The second theme focuses on partnering with Māori, Pasifika and Asian communities to co-develop culturally responsive pain management services (online and in-person) to address inequities to pain management. As part of this theme, he is currently co-leading a project to develop a community-led pain support programme for Māori with pain.

The third theme aims to improve societal representations of people with pain using art-based integrated knowledge translation approaches (e.g. stories, illustrations and films).

Strategically, his goal is to address health inequities and improve health outcomes for people with persistent pain and their whānau.

Additional details

Regular reviewer for:
  • Disability and Rehabilitation
  • Prosthetics and Orthotics International
  • Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • Journal of Medical and Internet Research
  • Physical Therapy Reviews
  • New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy

Publications

Perry, M. A., Jones, B., Devan, H., Neill, A., Piper, A., & Ingham, T. (2023). Non-invasive ventilation for people with neuromuscular disorders in Australia and New Zealand: A qualitative study of clinician perspectives. Medical Journal of Australia. Advance online publication. doi: 10.5694/mja2.52036 Journal - Research Article

Devan, H., Dorsch, S., Inman, A., & Brandt, C. (2023). Can evidence from high-income countries be used in low-income countries? Proceedings of the World Physiotherapy Congress. Retrieved from https://world.physio/congress Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Mescouto, K., Stilwell, P., Devan, H., & Setchell, J. (2023). Thinking and acting beyond the biophysical model in physiotherapy. Proceedings of the World Physiotherapy Congress. Retrieved from https://world.physio/congress Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Perry, M. A., Jones, B., Jenkins, M., Devan, H., Neill, A., & Ingham, T. (2023). Health system factors affecting the experience of non-invasive ventilation provision of people with neuromuscular disorders in New Zealand. International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health, 20, 4758. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20064758 Journal - Research Article

Burns, F., Calder, A., & Devan, H. (2023). Experiences of individuals with multiple sclerosis and stroke using transcutaneous foot drop electrical stimulators: A systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies. Disability & Rehabilitation, 45(12), 1923-1932. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2022.2076936 Journal - Research Article

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