Pain Self-Management Program
The Pilot Program
Overview
The Pain Self-Management Program (PSMP) was piloted in 2018/19 with funding from the Western Australian Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA)
- Delivered in small-group settings with evidence-based education and activation strategies.
- Focused on the biopsychosocial model to address physical, emotional, and social aspects of persistent pain.
- Included pre- and post-program assessments validated against the ePPOC national benchmarking dataset to measure clinical outcomes.
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Pilot Format
- Delivery: Three courses undertaken. each of 6 weeks with twice weekly two-hour group sessions covering pain science, exercise, sleep, nutrition, medication management, psychology, and goal setting.
- Unique features: Six supervised movement sessions, domiciliary home medicine review and a printed program manual.
- Criteria: Chronic pain > 3 months, no significant co-morbidities, computer access, willingness to engage in group settings.
- Participants: 32 patients aged 18–80, referred by GPs. Most patients were female (65%), unemployed (74%), with a comorbid mental health disorder (53%). Three-quarters of patients had pain lasting more than five years, an average pain score of 6 out of 10 and using an equivalent of 52mg morphine/day.
- Outcomes: Measured upon program completion through direct assessment and online health and feedback questionnaires.
A Comprehensive Dataset at Your Fingertips
DECODER’s data set contains national benchmarking (ePPOC) plus a rich biopsychosocial dataset collected via a suite of validated tools as outlined below:
Reduced Pain and Improved Function
- Average pain scores decreased.
- Pain interference was significantly reduced.
- Physical endurance and dexterity improved.
Better Workplace Outcomes
- Absentee days due to pain decreased, despite ongoing productivity impacts
Decreased Healthcare Utilisation
- GP and specialist visits were reduced.
- Reliance on hospital services and tests was lowered.
Lower Medication Use
- Half of participants on opioids reduced their intake below 30mg, consistent with national prescribing guidelines.
- One-fifth of opioid users ceased or reduced intake to 9mg per day or less.
Increased Physical Activity
- Exercise frequency and duration increased
Improved Nutrition Awareness
- Participants placed greater emphasis on healthy nutrition.
- Confidence in applying nutritional principles increased.
Enhanced Psychological Resilience
- Catastrophic thinking and fear of movement were reduced.
- Self-efficacy and confidence in managing pain were improved.
Overall Self-Management Improvement
- Self-management skills and confidence in handling persistent pain increased.
High Attendance and Participant Satisfaction
- 89% of participants completed the program.
- Participant ratings showed high overall value, quality of information, and usefulness of learning resources.
Summary
The Pain Self-Management Program enabled participants to reduce medication reliance, improve physical and mental health, increase engagement in daily activities, and lessen healthcare dependence.
” Participants reported reduced reliance on opioids and improved confidence in managing their pain independently. “