The effectiveness of a multidisciplinary pain management programme managing chronic pain.
The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the effects of a multidisciplinary pain management programme on coping, health-related quality of life and pain intensity. Seventy-six outpatients suffering from chronic pain completed this eight-week programme with the primary aims to increase coping, as measured by the Ways of Coping Checklist, and health-related quality of life, as measured by the Short Form-36 Health Survey. Therapeutic dialogues and education, combined with physical activity, were given in order to increase understanding of and attention to non-medical factors that might affect pain perception. The programme was active, time-limited and structured on the basis of multidisciplinary pain management programmes based on a cognitive-behavioural approach. The findings suggest that this programme has the potential to improve coping skills and health-related quality of life. Additionally, pain intensity, as measured by the Visual Analogue Scale, was reduced. Age and disability were revealed as the prominent predictors of change after treatment. The differences in this sample indicated that the drop-outs tended to be older and reported more health problems, although these findings were non-significant. Clinical and research implications are discussed.
School of Health and Social Work Education, Stavanger University College, Stavanger 4068, Norway. elin.dysvik@hs.his.no
Elin
E
Dysvik
Anne Guttormsen
AG
Vinsnes
Ole-Johan
OJ
Eikeland
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*