ABSTRACT
Background: The ongoing opioid epidemic and rising number of patients with chronic pain have highlighted the need for alternative and integrative pain management approaches. A number of evidence-based nonpharmacologic pain management strategies are available; however, these approaches remain underutilized due to barriers such as time limitations, cost, and lack of clinician training. The aim of this work was to implement a nonpharmacologic pain coach educator program that addresses these barriers. We report an evaluation of the first year of program implementation in the emergency department of a large safety-net hospital. Methods: We implemented a multimodal pain coach educator program that included education on pain neuroscience and over-the-counter analgesic options, demonstration of integrative techniques, and nonpharmacologic toolkits for home use. Implementation strategies included electronic health record tools, training and promotion, clinical champions, and clinician recognition. We used the RE-AIM framework to guide evaluation of the first year of program implementation using data from the electronic health record, quantitative and qualitative program records, and patient-reported outcomes. Results: In the first year of program implementation 550 pain coach educator sessions were conducted. Upon immediate session completion, 61% of patients felt the program was helpful, 39% were unsure at the time, and none reported session was not helpful. Clinician feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Program cost per patient was $344.35. Adaptations to first year intervention and implementation strategies included modifications of session delivery timing for accommodation of clinical workflows, additions to program content to align with patient characteristics, and changes to patient identification strategies in response to the coronavirus 19 pandemic. Conclusions: The PAMI pain coach educator program provides a model for nonpharmacologic pain management programs which can be scaled up and adapted for other settings. This work demonstrates the importance of intervention and implementation strategy adaptations to enhance program reach and effectiveness.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To test for effects of a problem-solving intervention for stroke caregivers on stroke survivor activities of daily living. DESIGN: Two-arm parallel randomized clinical trial with repeated measures at 11 weeks and 19 weeks. SETTING: Medical centers for US military Veterans. SUBJECTS: Caregivers of stroke survivors. INTERVENTION: A registered nurse guided caregivers in using problem-solving strategies emphasizing creative thinking, optimism, planning, and expert information to address challenges associated with caregiving. Caregivers in the intervention completed one telephone orientation session followed by eight online, asynchronous messaging center sessions. The messaging center sessions involved (a) education on the Resources and Education for Stroke Caregivers' Understanding and Empowerment website (https://www.stroke.cindrr.research.va.gov/en/), (b) supportive communication between the nurse and caregiver, (c) nurse and caregiver interactions to improve problem-solving, and (d) maintain adherence to discharge planning instructions. MAIN OUTCOME: The Barthel Index was used to measure activities of daily living. RESULTS: 174 participants (standard care n = 88, intervention n = 86) were enrolled at baseline. There were no significant differences between groups at baseline. Change scores in activities of daily living between baseline and 11 weeks were significantly higher in the intervention group than the standard care group (group difference = 6.43, 95% confidence interval: 1.28, 11.58). Group differences in change scores between baseline and 19 weeks were not statistically significant (group difference = 3.89, 95% confidence interval: -3.58, 11.36). CONCLUSIONS: This web-based caregiver intervention improved stroke survivor activities of daily living by 11 weeks, but intervention effects were undetectable after 19 weeks.
