Enhancing Self-management for Adults With Functional Abdominal Pain: A Registered Nurse-Led Cognitive-Behavioral...

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Ambulatory Care
• Behavioral Medicine

Background:

• Functional abdominal pain syndrome (FAP) and functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) affect 0.5%-2% of North Americans, incurring significant healthcare costs with limited symptom resolution.
• National reports recommend innovative ambulatory care models to address chronic disease management.
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is recognized as a cost-effective self-management strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a registered nurse-led CBT program for adults with FGID.
• To enhance patient self-management of chronic pain and associated symptoms.
• To improve patient satisfaction with care in an outpatient gastroenterology setting.

Main Methods:

• A pre- and postintervention group comparison study was conducted in an outpatient gastroenterology clinic.
• Twelve patients received nurse-led education on pain management and CBT techniques.
• Data were collected via questionnaires before and after the CBT intervention.

Main Results:

• Patients reported improvements in symptoms, overall well-being, and satisfaction with care post-CBT.
• The nurse-led CBT approach demonstrated effectiveness in promoting self-management of chronic pain.
• Registered nurses effectively utilized their scope of practice to enhance patient care management.

Conclusions:

• Nurse-led CBT is a viable strategy to improve self-care for patients with FGID.
• Integrating advanced practice registered nurses into ambulatory care models can optimize management of chronic conditions.
• This intervention model shows promise for enhancing patient outcomes and satisfaction in gastroenterology subspecialty clinics.