An Interdisciplinary Intensive Outpatient Pain Program is Associated with Improved Patient Activation and Key Outcomes

Abstract

Aim: To examine the change in the Patient Activation Measure and physical and psychosocial outcome measures in a military interdisciplinary intensive outpatient program for persistent pain. Materials & methods: Pre- and post-intervention measures, which were also stratified by gender and baseline activation, included patient-reported outcomes and physical function assessment, obtained from 2017 to 2018 program database. Results: The majority of the participants were male (70.9%), with an average age of 29.18 years and pain duration of 4.78 years (n = 103). Patient activation, majority of the patient reported outcomes and functional assessments improved in the overall sample with fewer changes in females on the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale. Conclusion: Improvements were noted on the Patient Activation Measure and majority of the other outcome measures suggesting that service members with persistent pain at any level of patient activation or baseline function, may benefit from an intensive outpatient program.

Keywords::

• chronic pain
• interdisciplinary pain management
• military

Author contributions

BK Bujak, CE Blake, PF Beattie and S Harrington conceived the study design. BK Bujak performed the literature review, data collection, performed the analysis and drafted the manuscript with tables. CE Blake, PF Beattie and S Harrington provided input on study design, data collection and analysis. BK Bujak, CE Blake, PF Beattie, S Harrington, CM Monroe, D Wilkie, ME Earwood discussed the results, commented on and contributed to the manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of Army, Department of Defense or the US Government.