The Pain Course: 12- and 24-Month Outcomes From a Randomized Controlled Trial of an Internet-Delivered Pain Management Program Provided With Different Levels of Clinician Support
Dear, B.F.; Gandy, M.; Karin, E.; Fogliati, R.; Fogliati, V.J.; Staples, L.G.; Wootton, B.M.; Sharpe, L.; Titov, N.
Journal of Pain Official Journal of the American Pain Society 19(12): 1491-1503
2018
ISSN/ISBN: 1526-5900 PMID: 30099209 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2018.07.005
Accession: 065601302
Little is known about the long-term outcomes of emerging Internet-delivered pain management programs. The current study reports the 12- and 24-month follow-up data from a randomized controlled trial (n = 490) of an Internet-delivered pain management program, the Pain Course. The initial results of the trial to the 3-month follow-up have been reported elsewhere. There were significant improvements in disability, depression, anxiety, and pain levels across 3 treatment groups receiving different levels of clinician support compared with a treatment as the usual control. No marked or significant differences were found between the treatment groups either after treatment or at the 3-month follow-up. The current study obtained long-term follow-up data from 78% and 79% of participants (n = 397) at the 12-month and 24-month follow-up marks, respectively. Clinically significant decreases (average percent reduction; Cohen's d effect sizes) were maintained at the 12- and 24-month follow-ups for disability (average reduction ≥27%; d ≥ .67), depression (average reduction ≥36%; d ≥ .80), anxiety (average reduction ≥38%; d ≥ .66), and average pain levels (average reduction ≥21%; d ≥ .67). No marked or consistent differences were found among the 3 treatment groups. These findings suggest that the outcomes of Internet-delivered programs may be maintained over the long term. PERSPECTIVE: This article presents the long-term outcome data of an established Internet-delivered pain management program for adults with chronic pain. The clinical improvements observed during the program were found to be maintained at the 12- and 24-month follow-up marks. This finding indicates that these programs can have lasting clinical effects.