Assessing clinically meaningful change following a programme for managing chronic pain.
OBJECTIVE
(1) To identify criteria for clinically meaningful change scores in commonly used measures of pain and related disability, using Goal Attainment Scaling as an external indicator of success. (2) To investigate the chances of achieving these scores following a pain management programme versus remaining on the waiting list.


METHODS
Participants were assessed on entry to waiting list, on admission and at follow-up from the pain management programme. Three groups of Goal Attainment Scaling scores (-1.0, +1) were created from final Goal Attainment Scaling achievements. Mean scores on other measures were analysed in relation to Goal Attainment Scaling score groups by ANOVA. Differences in numbers achieving clinically meaningful changes when on the pain management programme or waiting list were compared.


METHODS
Chronic musculoskeletal pain participants (N = 73) attending a rehabilitation centre, mean age (range) 44.8 (24-70) years, mean age (range) 44.8 (24-70), mean pain duration 7.7 (1-32) years.


METHODS
Three-week (15-day) pain management programme based on cognitive behavioural principles.


METHODS
McGill Pain Questionnaire, 0-10 Pain Intensity Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (ODQ), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), 5 minute walk, 1 minute sit/stand, 1 minute stair-climbing, and Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS).


RESULTS
Mean change scores differed significantly for three GAS groups and were highest in the most successful (+1) group. These scores were used to define clinically meaningful changes on the NRS (-3), ODQ (-12), walk (+87) and stairs (+14). Significantly more participants on the pain management programme achieved these scores than those on the waiting list.


CONCLUSIONS
Using GAS as a criterion of patient-perceived improvement enabled identification of clinically meaningful changes on some other common measures. These successfully differentiated achievement between patients on the pain management programme and those on the waiting list.
Fisher
Keren
K
Wolfson Neurorehabilitation Centre, London, UK. Keren.Fisher@rnoh.nhs.uk
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010146:Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome