Managing acute and chronic pain
What patients want to know, and how they want to be informed
Patients can experience acute and chronic pain, and these conditions can have enduring adverse effects. In the acute phase, over half of surgical and trauma patients report moderate to severe pain, which can impede their recovery. Furthermore, chronic pain afflicts 20% of individuals globally, severely impacting their daily activities and mental well-being. The unmitigated consequences of untreated pain extend to significant direct (e.g., healthcare costs) and indirect (e.g., reduced productivity) societal burdens, ranging from $30 billion to $600 billion annually in developed countries.
To address these challenges, various educational interventions have emerged in recent years, designed to empower patients in managing their pain and mitigating its impact on their lives. Typically led by healthcare professionals, these interventions encompass self-management, altering patient perceptions of their condition, and enhancing adherence to treatments.
Several systematic reviews have assessed the impact of educational interventions on pain experience in various acute and chronic pain conditions, such as post-surgery, musculoskeletal pain, whiplash injuries, and cancer. However, these reviews have yielded mixed results, partly due to variations in intervention content, delivery methods, and outcome measures. Furthermore, there is often insufficient information about the development and selection of intervention features, and whether they align with patient needs and preferences. This lack of patient-centred focus can hinder the adoption of healthcare recommendations.
To enhance the efficacy, relevance, and applicability of educational interventions, it is crucial to understand what patients wish to learn about their pain and how they want to receive this information. This distinction is especially important between patients experiencing acute and chronic pain, as the nature of their pain experiences can vary, affecting their unique requirements and preferences. The lack of patient input––what patients want to know and how they want to be informed––is one of the main issues underlying intervention design.
A systematic review is underway to synthesise the qualitative and quantitative evidence on the educational needs and preferences of adult patients grappling with acute or chronic pain. This knowledge synthesis aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of patient-centred pain education. The findings of this review can then inform clinical guidance and pave the way for innovative educational interventions that enhance pain management and patients' overall quality of life.
The protocol for the systematic review is available in the October issue of JBI Evidence Synthesis
Educational needs and preferences of adult patients with acute or chronic pain: a mixed methods systematic review protocol
Bérubé, Mélanie; Verret, Michael; Martorella, Géraldine; Gagnon, Marc-Aurèle; Bourque, Laurence; Déry, Marie-Philippe; Hudon, Anne; Singer, Lesley Norris; Richard-Denis, Andréane; Ouellet, Simon; Côté, Caroline; Gauthier, Lynn; Guénette, Line; Gagnon, Marie-Pierre
JBI Evidence Synthesis 21(10):p 2092-2098, October 2023. | DOI: 10.11124/JBIES-22-00298