The Pain Academy: An evaluation of a primary care brief
psychoeducational program for persistent pain
Abstract
Persistent pain affects 20% of adults and can impair one’s daily
functioning and well-being. Psychoeducational group interventions can be
effective in aiding pain management and coping strategies, however the
time commitment for most evidence-based programs (10-20 hours) leads to
access barriers and delivery challenges in primary care. A
mixed-methods, program evaluation was conducted on a low intensity,
three-session, manualized group pilot psychoeducational intervention in
a primary care practice, emphasizing pain education, behavioral
strategies, and pain-alleviating activities. Eighty-two percent of the
clinic’s panel of individuals with persistent pain (N=128) and being
prescribed opioid pain medication attended at least one class (N=105).
Attendees experienced significant pre-post improvements in self-reported
pain functioning and favorable satisfaction ratings by patients and
medical staff. However only 51% attended all three groups, despite
frequent class offerings and heavily encourage by the patient’s medical
providers. This study reviews the potential promise and limitations of a
low-intensity, limited session pain group to aid pain-related
functioning. Additional investigation is warranted to optimize
participant attendance, group format and frequency, and outcome
assessment.