A 6 week psychoeducational programme reduced pain and improved quality of life in adults with chronic idiopathic pain
Question Can a low cost, community based psychoeducational programme (Chronic Pain Self-Management Program [CPSMP]) reduce pain and improve quality of life in adults with mixed idiopathic chronic pain conditions?
Design
Randomised controlled trial with 3 months follow up.
Setting
A community based study in St John's, Newfoundland, Canada.
Patients
110 adults (mean age 40 y, 75% women) with chronic, non-malignant, idiopathic pain were recruited from hospital clinics, health professional referrals, and volunteers. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, idiopathic pain for >3 months, ability to speak and read English, no major cognitive or psychiatric disorders, not currently participating in another educational or supportive intervention for pain management, and not scheduled for surgery. Follow up was 93%.
Intervention
57 adults were allocated to the CPSMP programme and 53 to receive the programme after waiting for ≥3 months. The nurse led programme included print material, …
