SCAN-ECHO for Pain Management: Implementing a Regional Telementoring Training for Primary Care Providers

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Telehealth
• Pain Management

Background:

• The Specialty Care Access Network-Extension for Community Health Outcomes (SCAN-ECHO) is a telehealth training model.
• Primary care providers (PCPs) often require specialized training to manage complex conditions like chronic pain.
• This study describes a SCAN-ECHO program focused on pain management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the preliminary effectiveness of a pain management SCAN-ECHO training program.
• To evaluate changes in PCPs' confidence and knowledge regarding pain management.
• To explore the impact on inter-professional communication.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-four PCPs from three VA medical centers participated.
• Pre- and post-training questionnaires measured confidence and knowledge.
• Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews.
• Statistical analysis (using R) and inductive coding were employed.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in confidence ratings and knowledge scores were observed post-training.
• Participants reported feeling more knowledgeable about pain management.
• Improved communication between primary and specialty care providers was noted.

Conclusions:

• The SCAN-ECHO pain management program positively impacted PCPs' confidence and knowledge.
• This training has the potential to improve chronic pain treatment and influence opioid prescribing practices.
• One-year academic projects like SCAN-ECHO can enhance PCP skills.