Authors (including presenting author) :
Lam CY (1), Mak YM (2) and Leung SF (2)
Affiliation :
(1) School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, (2) School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Objectives :
- To assess patients’ perceived benefits from PainWISE.
- To assess the cost-effectiveness of PainWISE.
Methodology :
Patients’ perceived benefits of the program was assessed by an investigator-developed questionnaire. Patients were asked to respond to 22 items which assessing knowledge of chronic pain and pain management (8 items), utilization of pain management strategies (8 items), and overall comment on the progamme (6 items) in a numeric scale ranging from 0 to 10. Cost-effectiveness of the programme was evaluated by the number of clinic visit and time spent, nursing manpower and resources.
Result & Outcome :
A total of 32 patients with various chronic non-malignant pain conditions, including musculoskeletal pain, neuropathic pain, and fibromyalgia, participated the programme. They are required to attend four-2.5 hour sessions at hospital. Twenty-nine patients (90.625%) attended at least one session, 20 patients (62.50%) attended all sessions, however, 3 patients (10.345%) attended none of the session. In the post-programme survey, it revealed that patients’ perceived benefits was good in knowledge of chronic pain and pain management strategies, and utilization of pain management strategies with mean score 7.569 and 7.544 respectively. Also, patient’s overall comment and qualitative feedback were good.
Compared to the conventional individual consultation approach, PainWISE allowed patients to receive same volume of content in 73.33% time lesser. As such, both direct and indirect cost were consequently reduced. Moreover, PainWISE maintained a nurse-patient ratio of approximately 1:4 in each session by reassigning current nursing manpower without additional resources and equipment.
Conclusions: Findings of this preliminary evaluation showed PainWISE was generally well accepted by adult patients with chronic non-malignant pain and cost effective. The programme provided patients with knowledge on chronic pain and pain management at appropriate level and content. It may also help lower patients’ expenses on clinic visit cost at the same time receiving adequate information. Further, by reassigning manpower in pain management team, it may preserve resources to other unmet area. Future studies with larger sample size and measurement on physical activities may provide deeper insights into PainWISE implementation and its applicability to other pain groups.
