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Patient Care
P-122  Enabling patients to self-manage their pain; a pilot of a modified pain management programme
  1. Sheila Popert1,
  2. Agnes Csikos1,
  3. Peter Moore2,
  4. Chris Cutler1,
  5. Alison Allsopp1,
  6. Martin Hill1,
  7. Sonia Chand1 and
  8. Sandra Brown1
  1. 1St Giles Hospice, Whittington, UK
  2. 2The Pain Toolkit

Abstract

Background Despite WHO recommendations for the management of pain the prevalence in palliative patients remains between 62–86% and management remains primarily pharmacological. There is good evidence for the efficacy of Pain Management Programmes (PMP) based on cognitive behavioural principles for patients with chronic pain. They have been shown to improve pain experience, mood, coping, and activity levels. Palliative patients are rarely eligible for inclusion on such programmes.

Aim

  • To pilot and evaluate a holistic PMP tailored to the needs of palliative patients

  • To reduce use of analgesics

  • To introduce techniques for self-management of pain.

Design

  • Patients with a life-limiting illness, complex pain, a Pain Score greater than 5 and a Karnofsky Performance Scale greater than 50% were eligible for enrolment in the six week programme

  • Patients were initially assessed by a palliative consultant and a pharmacist to optimise drug regimens

  • The PMP used a multi-disciplinary rehabilitative approach introducing the Pain Toolkit, Mindfulness, Relaxation, Cognitive Behavioural Techniques and Seated Exercise

  • Evaluation was by structured questionnaires, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Pain Scores.

Results

  • 18 patients met the inclusion criteria, nine patients agreed to take part, five patients completed the programme. Age range 32 to 74 years

  • Patients reported moderate to severe anxiety and depression at the start. HADS scoring showed category improvement by the end

  • Mindfulness and relaxation were rated as the most beneficial elements

  • Patients reported group working supportive

  • Pain scores did not change significantly but patients used less breakthrough medication

  • Patients were able to employ techniques to self-manage pain.

Conclusion It can be difficult for palliative patients to attend a six- week programme; however for those who are well enough the pilot showed benefit, it improves pain self-management and reduces use of analgesics. Wider introduction of modified PMPs could be considered for palliative patients.

This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work noncommercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2016-001245.145

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