Assessing a peer-led pain and wellness self-management program with older adults

In 2021, the National Council on Aging developed the Self-Management Curriculum for Wellness and Pain Relief (NCWPR), a peer-based pain self-management program that provides person-centered pain management strategies, credible information on pain management methods and medications, and safe practices for the use of OTC drugs. This study describes a larger-scale, controlled intervention study of the NCWPR implemented to demonstrate its efficacy and readiness for more rigorous translation studies of the NCWPR's impact on participants.

This intervention efficacy study enrolled 90 adults (50 years and older) in a pre-/post-intervention design with a baseline control. Eight cohorts took the workshop series and were surveyed pre-study, 6 weeks post-control, on completing the curriculum, and 6 weeks later.

Of 34 practices, therapies, or activities in the curriculum, participants showed robust, statistically significant increases in engagement and uptake on 23 following the curriculum, which was largely retained in the follow-up survey 6 weeks later. Participants showed statistically significant increases in knowledge around medications and sources of information about pain management, improved self-reported health, and a diminished experience of pain in daily life.

The NCPWR fills an important gap for community-dwelling older adults who are living with pain but still able to engage in exercises at home as well as other professional therapies available in behavioral, traditional, or alternative medical care. It is accessible, peer-based, non-clinical, and able to be provided with minimal training to trainers.