Long term outcomes of chronic pain patients attending a publicly funded community-based interdisciplinary pain program in the Greater Toronto area: results of a practice-based audit

• Published in: Journal of patient-reported outcomes Vol. 6; no. 1; pp. 44 - 10
• Main Authors: Mailis, Angela, Deshpande, Amol, Lakha, S. Fatima
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 07.05.2022; Springer Nature B.V; SpringerOpen
• Subjects: Chronic pain; Interdisciplinary aspects; Interdisciplinary treatment; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Outpatient; Pain management; Patients; Quality of Life Research; Interdisciplinary treatment; Chronic pain; Outpatient
• ISSN: 2509-8020; 2509-8020
• DOI: 10.1186/s41687-022-00452-z

Background Chronic pain management multi/interdisciplinary programs attempt to address all elements of the biopsychosocial model. The primary objective of this retrospective study (based on practice-based audit) was to determine the effectiveness of a patient-centered, comprehensive and intense interdisciplinary pain management program in a publicly funded community-based pain clinic in the Greater Toronto Area. Method This retrospective longitudinal study was conducted on 218 carefully selected sequential chronic pain patients, with 158 completing a 3–4-month interdisciplinary program between January 2016 and December 2018. Data collected upon exit, at 6 months and 12 months post-discharge included demographic information, pain characteristics, emotional/functional status obtained by validated instruments and global impression of change (GIC). Additionally, social health outcomes (return to work or school) were retrieved through retrospective chart review. Means of pre-and post-program variables were compared to assess changes of each patient’s “journey”. Results Physical and mental/ emotional health outcomes at exit, 6 months and 12 months post-discharge, showed initial and sustained, statistically and clinically significant improvement from pre-treatment levels, with GIC (much/very much improved) reported as 77%, 58% and 76%, respectively. Additionally, a substantial positive change in social health outcomes was noted particularly in patients on disability (29%), part time workers gaining full time employment (55%), and students (71%) who improved their level of schooling. Conclusion The study showed that careful patient selection in a community-based publicly funded interdisciplinary pain management program can produce significant improvement in pain, physical, mental/emotional health and social function, with sustained long-term outcomes.