Pain Retrained: Outcomes Analysis of an Online, Interdisciplinary Chronic Pain Education Programme
Maura McCarron1, Francis Agnew2,3, Claire Briggs2
1School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
Background:
Videoconferencing to deliver chronic pain education offers improved accessibility and scalability. However, evidence regarding such interventions is largely absent, thus it is necessary to assess their clinical value. This study evaluated the impact of a group-based interdisciplinary chronic pain education programme, Pain Retrained, delivered via videoconferencing.
Methods:
This study employed a single-arm longitudinal design with measures collected at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Six weekly online sessions of two hours each were delivered to groups as the first point of contact with a secondary care pain service. Changes were evaluated via multilevel Structural Equation Modelling. Indices of acceptability were assessed post-intervention.
Results:
In total, 261 participants (62.1% female) completed Pain Retrained. There was sustained change through follow-up for pain self-efficacy and social functioning and post-intervention only change for depression and pain-anxiety. Change was non-significant for pain intensity and pain interference. Effect sizes ranged from negligible to medium (range Cohen's d = 0.03-0.74). The majority of participants, 85.4% reported improved understanding of pain.
Conclusion:
There has been growing interest in advancing pain education through online modalities. This study shows that live, clinician-led online pain education is feasible and acceptable for people with chronic pain, with high satisfaction and perceived utility. These data are among the first to examine the effectiveness of this approach in relation to clinical outcomes. While outcomes were mixed, reflecting the complexity of chronic pain and limits of education alone, these findings extend existing knowledge by demonstrating this approach offers an accessible and scalable adjunct to care.
Significance:
The expansion of digital health interventions has outpaced evidence supporting their use in chronic pain care. By providing longitudinal, practice-based evidence from a novel large-scale programme, this study provides timely evidence to guide integration of online education into care pathways. It informs service planning while identifying key targets for optimisation, including integration with behaviour change strategies. The work also establishes priorities for further research to test efficacy and mechanisms of action in digitally delivered pain care.
