"Transforming Pain": Evaluation of a Multicomponent Workshop for the Treatment of Chronic Pain-A Quasi-Experimental...

Background/Objectives: Between 20 and 30% of the global population experiences Chronic Pain (CP). A comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach incorporating non-pharmacological interventions and active patient participation is recommended. This study evaluated the short- and medium-term effectiveness of a multicomponent workshop compared with a control group. Methods: A detailed description of the workshop and a single-group before-after evaluation in 197 patients were recently published. The present study used a quasi-experimental before-after design with a three-month follow-up, comparing an intervention group (n = 64) with a contemporaneous control group that continued with usual care (n = 64). Validated scales were used to measure pain, well-being, quality of life (QoL), self-esteem, resilience, anxiety, and depression. Two ad hoc surveys assessed satisfaction and perceived impact on pain, medication use, habits, and mood. Results: A total of 128 patients participated (64 per group). The intervention group showed statistically significant improvements in all indicators at both short-term (end of workshop) and medium-term (three months) follow-up. Pain decreased by -1.3 (-3.0-0) [3 months: -1.0 (-3.0--1.0)], anxiety by -3.0 (-5.0--1.0) [3 months: -3.0 (-5.0-1.0)], and depression by -4.0 (-7.0--2.0) [3 months: -3.0 (-6.0-0)]. Well-being increased by 3.0 (1.0-4.0) [3 months: 1.0 (0-4.0)]; QoL by 0.213 (0.072-0.388) [3 months: 0.185 (0.013-0.337)]; perceived health by 13.5 (0-30.0) [3 months: 10.0 (0-30.0)]; self-esteem by 4.5 (1.0-7.3) [3 months: 3.0 (-1.0-6.0)], and resilience by 1.0 (-1.0-5.0) [3 months: 1.0 (0.0-5.0)]. In the control group, resilience worsened (-1.0 [-5.0-1.0], p = 0.002) and depression increased (1.0 [-1.0-3.0], p = 0.037). Pain decreased in 47 participants (74.6%) at the end of the workshop [3 months: 34 (65.4%)]. Of 55 who used medication, 48 (81.4%) reduced their intake [3 months: 34; 68.0%]. Healthy habits improved in 58 (92.1%) [3 months: 40; 78.4%]. Mood improved: 26 (41.3%) described themselves as "cheerful" and 24 (38.1%) as "neutral" [3 months: 23; 44.2% and 14; 26.9%]. Overall satisfaction: 9.7 (scale 0-10). Conclusions: The workshop enabled patients to mitigate pain, actively participate in self-care, and improve quality of life, self-esteem, and emotional well-being. These effects persisted three months post-intervention.