The positives effects of a pain education program on patients with chronic pain: observational study

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Pain education is a tool that helps health professionals in the biopsychosocial approach and in pain management in patients with musculoskeletal pain. The objectives of the study were to verify the effects of a pain education program in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. The evaluated outcomes were pain, kinesiophobia, catastrophizing, quality of life, central sensitization and perception of the disease. METHODS: Observational, retrospective study. Data from 24 participants with chronic pain, mean age 57 years, were analyzed, 83% of whom were female. Patients participated in a pain education program, which addressed topics such as acceptance, pain alarm, sleep, relaxation, negative thoughts, return to activities, relationships, and exercises. RESULTS: Participants showed significant changes in the cognitive representation of the disease measured by the Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief-IPQ) (p<0.01), central sensitization by the CSI (p=0.05), catastrophism (p<0.05), pain (p<0.01), physical aspects by the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) (p<0.05) and in the total score of the same Instrument (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The group applied pain education associated with usual physical therapy had significant effects in relation to the cognitive representation of the disease, central sensitization, catastrophizing and quality of life in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

A Inter-relação entre a dor e as manifestações psicossomáticas

“…O atual entendimento do conceito biopsicossocial do dor implica em uma mudança na relação entre o profissional de saúde e o paciente, pois requer a participação deste como agente ativo do tratamento e a construção compartilhada do conhecimento para ajuste das necessidades do paciente à sua realidade (PONTIN et al, 2021).…”