Abstract

MOIX, J.  and  EQUIPO INTERDISCIPLINAR PARA EL TRATAMIENTO DEL DOLOR DE ESPALDA et al. Confirmed effectiveness of an interdisciplinary educational program in patients with chronic back pain. Rev. Soc. Esp. Dolor [online]. 2004, vol.11, n.3, pp.141-149. ISSN 1134-8046.

Chronic pain is currently considered not as a mere physical event, but as a disorder clearly influenced by psychological and social factors. If pain management is to be consistent with this conception, both medical, psychological and social aspects must be addressed and interdisciplinary techniques must be applied. One study performed over the years 2001 and 2002 showed the effectiveness of an interdisciplinary program for the management of chronic back pain. This study aimed to confirm such effectiveness through a different design. Material y methods: The study population included 14 patients with chronic back pain. All the patients participated in a multidisciplinary educational program that addressed multiple biopsychosocial aspects through sessions imparted by different professionals (anesthesiologists, traumatologists, health psychologists, sexologists, social workers and physiotherapists). Effectiveness was assessed using a intra-individual repeated measurement design. Four assessments were performed, two of them before and the other two after the program. Three months was the time elapsed between the assessments. In all of them, the following was measured: pain, anxiety and depression. In the second and third assessments, patients were asked to report any decrease in the use of analgesic drugs. In the third assessment, just after the end of the program, patient opinion regarding the program was gathered. The results support the effectiveness of the program, since the reduction of depression and anxiety was statistically significant and, in many cases, it was also clinically significant. Analgesic use decreased in 35.7% of subjects. Changes seen with the program were maintained after three months. Patient opinion regarding the interdisciplinary technique was always clearly positive. Conclusion: The results confirm the effectiveness of the program that was shown in our prior study. The results of both studies support the effectiveness of the program, since their different design provides stronger evidences.

Keywords : Chronic pain; Interdisciplinary program; Anxiety; Depression.

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