Abstract
Background: The goals of a chronic pain management clinic includeincreasing patient knowledge about pain, developing pain management skillsand increasing patients’ confidence in their pain management abilities.A Chronic Pain Management Programme (CPMP) based on evidence basedguidelines was developed at a chronic pain management clinic to facilitatepatient discharge to a primary healthcare level. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore patient satisfaction with, acceptability of and the perceived success which could be due to the CPMP developed at the Chronic Pain Management Clinic of Groote Schuur Hospital,Cape Town.Methods: Patients (n=14) were referred to the pilot study from the Chronic Pain Management Clinic. A s a pilot, four courses were run over a period ofone year. In order to reach the research aim, an eleven-question, structuredopen-ended interview was conducted with all participants. Results: Fourteen patients enrolled in the CPMP. Responses were favourable with participants emphasising the roleof increased knowledge about pain, the role of exercise and of stress management techniques. Participants also recog-nised a positive change in behaviours and attitudes following participation in the CPMP.Conclusions: Findings suggest that participants found the format of the course acceptable as regards course content,structure and delivery. Participant responses suggest that the course was acceptable and perceived as useful. However,future courses would benefit from refresher courses or structured support groups.
Highlights
Chronic pain has been variously described as pain lasting for more than three months (Merskey and Bogduk, 2002); pain which has outlived its usefulness (Gifford, 1998) or pain which continues despite the original pathology having resolved (Main and Spanswick, 2000)
Guidelines published by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) recommend that chronic pain be managed through interdisciplinary clinics which include physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychiatrists and nurses with specialised training in pain management (Main and Spanswick, 2000)
This paper reports on the qualitative responses of the participants of the pilot study of the Chronic Pain Management Programme (CPMP) which contribute to an understanding of how well the CPMP met its goals of increasing participants’ knowledge of pain, pain management skills and confidence about coping with their pain
Summary
Chronic pain has been variously described as pain lasting for more than three months (Merskey and Bogduk, 2002); pain which has outlived its usefulness (Gifford, 1998) or pain which continues despite the original pathology having resolved (Main and Spanswick, 2000). Chronic pain has been reported to affect one in five people worldwide. The effects of chronic pain are multiple with one in three people with chronic pain being unable or less able to maintain an independent lifestyle. People living with chronic pain report that their condition causes strain in or, breaks one in four close relationships (International Federation for Medical & Biological Engineering, 2006). The current recommended approach to the treatment of chronic pain is born from the understanding that true chronic pain will never disappear completely (Turk and McCarberg, 2005). Guidelines published by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) recommend that chronic pain be managed through interdisciplinary clinics which include physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychiatrists and nurses with specialised training in pain management (Main and Spanswick, 2000)
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