Chronic Pain Self-Management Support With Pain Science Education and Exercise (COMMENCE) for People With Chronic Pain and Multiple Comorbidities: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of chronic pain self-management support with pain science education and exercise (COMMENCE) on improving function, pain interference, work status, pain intensity, fatigue, psychological factors associated with pain, health care visits, satisfaction, and perceived change compared with usual care. DesignParallel group randomized controlled trial with 1- and 12-week follow-ups. SettingCommunity health center. ParticipantsAdults (N=102) with chronic noncancer pain referred for self-management support. Eighty of 102 participants completed 12-week follow-up assessments. No participants withdrew with adverse events. InterventionsParticipants were randomized to COMMENCE or usual care. Main Outcome MeasuresPrimary: Function measured using the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment–Dysfunction Index. Secondary: Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment–Bother Index, Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System pain interference, work status, numeric pain, and fatigue rating scales, Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Pain Self-Efficacy Scale, Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire, number of health care visits, satisfaction, and global rating of change. ResultsCOMMENCE resulted in greater improvements in function (mean difference [MD] at 12-wk follow-up=−8.0; 95% CI, −14.7 to −1.3), bother with functional difficulties (MD, −12.0; 95% CI, −20.8 to −3.2), pain intensity (MD, −1.0; 95% CI, −2.1 to −0.1), catastrophizing (MD , −8.2; 95% CI, −14.5 to −2.0), self-efficacy (MD, 7.0; 95% CI, 0.8-13.2), knowledge (MD, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.6-3.9), satisfaction (MD, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.7-1.8), and perceived change (MD, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.8-2.1). There were no significant between-group differences in pain interference, work, fatigue, depressive symptoms, or health care visits. ConclusionCOMMENCE is more effective than usual care at improving function, pain, catastrophic thinking, self-efficacy, pain knowledge, satisfaction, and perceived change but not pain interference, work status, fatigue, depressive symptoms, or health care visits.