Guided Self-determination in the Treatment of Chronic Pain to Promote the Life Skills of the Patient

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this randomized study is to find out whether using the Danish-developed nursing intervention guided self-determination (GSD) can improve life skills of the chronic pain patient. The hypothesis is using guided self-determination in the treatment of chronic pain patients will increase the life skills of the patients and thus their life quality in spite of pain.

Detailed Description
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Twenty percent of the Danish population suffer from chronic pain, which leads to the second highest financial expense following psychiatric diseases. In treating chronic pain, the main focus is often on diagnosis and treatment rather than life quality and everyday life. Several studies point to the fact that the interaction between the health professional and the patient can be improved by the individual patient being educated in taking responsibility for his/her own illness, and by involving the patient in decision making through training communication. GSD is an educational method, comprising 32 semi-structured reflection sheets inviting the patients in groups of 4 through 8 sessions of 150 minutes' duration to reflect on the patient's own situation and to be active in co-operation with the nurses. A total of 192 patients will be included and randomized in either an intervention or in a control group. The difference between the two groups is measured by means of three questionnaires, SF-36, PAM and SOC, which are answered before and after the intervention as well as 6 months later. The hypothesis is using guided self-determination in the treatment of chronic pain patients will increase the life skills of the patients and thus their life quality in spite of pain. An alliance is established between The Multidisciplinary Pain Clinic at Herlev Hospital and The Pain Clinic at Naestved Hospital as well as The Regional Pain Clinic at Koege Hospital to conduct this intervention and thus make the best possible use of interrelated knowledge within the issue.

Official Title
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The Use of Guided Self-determination in the Treatment of Chronic Pain Patients Will Increase Life Skills and Thereby Life Quality of the Chronic Pain Patient

Conditions
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Chronic Pain

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Autonomy-supportive counselling (GSD)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: 18 years and older, diagnosed with nonmalignant chronic pain Exclusion Criteria: patients who do not read, write and understand the Danish language patients with a known medical abuse patients needing special psychological and/or psychiatric intervention patients with health-related problems preventing them from participating in a group

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Control<br>Standard of care | |
| Experimental: Autonomy-supportive counselling (GSD)<br>GSD, an educational method, comprising 32 semi-structured reflection sheets inviting the patients in groups of 4 through 8 sessions of 150 minutes' duration to reflect on the patient's own situation and to be active in co-operation with the nurses. | Behavioral: Autonomy-supportive counselling (GSD)<br>* GSD, an educational method, comprising 32 semi-structured reflection sheets inviting the patients in groups of 4 through 8 sessions of 150 minutes' duration to reflect on the patient's own situation and to be active in co-operation with the nurses.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in self-reported life quality | Measured by the self-rating SF-36 (Short-form 36) - questionnaire | Baseline, 2, 6 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in self-assessed motivation for pain management | Measured by the self-rating PAM (Patient Activation Measure)-questionnaire | Baseline, 2, 6 months | 
| Changes in self-assessed competence in pain management | Measured by the self-rating SOC (Sense of Coherence) - questionnaire | Baseline, 2, 6 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Chronic pain, Supportive care, Psychosocial Circumstances, Autonomy support, Nursing intervention