Effects of a person‐centred approach in a school setting for adolescents with chronic pain—The HOPE randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background

Chronic pain among adolescents is common but effective interventions applicable in a school setting are rare. Person‐centred care (PCC) is a key factor in improving health by engaging persons as partners in their own care.

Methods

In this randomized controlled trial, a total of 98 adolescents in secondary school or upper secondary school (aged 14 − 21 years) with chronic pain were randomly assigned to a PCC intervention or standard school healthcare. In the intervention group a pain management programme, based on a PCC approach, comprising four face‐to‐face sessions with a school nurse over a period of 5 weeks was added to standard school healthcare. The main outcome measure was self‐efficacy in daily activities (SEDA scale) and rating scales for pain intensity and pain impact were used as secondary outcome measures.

Results

At the follow‐up, no significant differences were found between the groups in the SEDA scale (p  = .608) or in the rating scales for pain intensity (p  = .261) and pain impact (p = .836). In the sub‐group analysis, a significant improvement in the SEDA scale was detected at the secondary school in favour of the PCC intervention group (p  = .021).

Conclusion

In this pain management programme based on a PCC approach, we found no effect in the total sample, but the programme showed promising results to improve self‐efficacy in daily activities among adolescents at secondary school.

Significance

This study evaluates the effects of a pain management programme based on a PCC approach in a school setting addressing adolescents at upper secondary and secondary schools with chronic pain. No overall effects were shown, but results illustrate that the intervention improved self‐efficacy in adolescents at secondary school. Implementation of a PCC approach in a school setting may have the potential to improve self‐efficacy in daily activities for adolescents with chronic pain at secondary school.

from Wiley: European Journal of Pain: Table of Contents https://ift.tt/2z9ax7D
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