COVID-19 and Its Effects on Chronic Pain Patients

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage. Many factors can affect pain and its severity. This study aims to explore how the COVID-19 affects chronic pain patients in terms of pain in general, intensity of pain, desire for pain treatment including follow up visits and pain medication refills as well as sleep.

Detailed Description
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Research question What are the effects of the COVID-19 on chronic pain patients in terms of pain and pain management? Conceptual framework The COVID-19 is a novel emerging infectious disease which has unimaginable and unbelievable large scale distressing effects worldwide. Up to date, there is no study which aims to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 on chronic pain patients in terms of pain and pain management. The previous survey in patients focused on the worrisome of them for getting this infection and their confidence in their government to control the COVID-19 situation in the US. Materials and methods This study is an in-depth interview. The in-depth interview is the principal method to collect qualitative data by setting up open-ended questions beforehand. Patients who are interviewed, can express their attitudes freely. This method is flexible which words, sentences and questions can be adjusted to suit each interviewee (participant). The process consists of active and intentional listening as well as ask on an in-depth basis. All conversations during the in-depth interview are tape-recorded.

Official Title
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Effects of COVID-19 on Chronic Pain Patients in Terms of Pain and Pain Management

Conditions
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Chronic Pain

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: No intervention (only interview)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patients with chronic pain who have been under the health care service of the pain clinic of Songklanagarind hospital. Chronic pain patients are patients with persistent pain for at least 3 months. Pain can be from any etiologies. The expected number of interviwees for this in-depth interview is 30 or until the gathered interview data are saturated. Exclusion Criteria: Patients who are not willing to participate this study and have time for an in person 'in-depth interview'. Patients who are not influence in Thai language. Patients who are physically or mentally too ill to participate this study.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Other: No intervention (only interview)|Interview|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| To explain how the COVID-19 affects chronic pain patients in terms of pain and pain management. | An in-depth interview will be conducted to find out how the COVID-19 affects chronic pain patients. The investigators will measure pain intensity and sleep disturbance level by using an 11-point numerical rating scale where 0 means that the patient's pain condition is not affected by the COVID-19 and 10 means that the patient's pain condition is maximally affected. The higher the score is the worse. | January to December 2021 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| To explain how the COVID-19 affects chronic pain patients' psychological status. | An in-depth interview will be performed to find out how the COVID-19 affects the psychological aspect of chronic pain patients. The level of anxiety and stress will be measured using the 11-point verbal numerical rating scale where 0 means that the patient's psychological status is not affected by the COVID-19 and 10 means that the patient's psychological status is maximally affected. The higher the score is the worse. | January to December 2021 |