Evaluation of a Interdisciplinary Pain Program Among Patients With Chronic Pain and Frequent Emer… (NCT02237391) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Evaluation of a Interdisciplinary Pain Program Among Patients With Chronic Pain and Frequent Emergency Department Visits
Canada46 participantsStarted 2014-12
Plain-language summary
While significant advances in pain management have occurred in the last 20 years, the majority of patients with chronic pain (CP) are unable to access evidence-based treatment at either the primary or tertiary care level.
Moreover, research has shown that unrelieved CP and the lack of available expertise contribute to emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions. At The Ottawa Hospital (TOH), close to 18,000 ED visits per year are related to CP (12.9%). Among high frequency visitors (HFV; \>= 8 visits per year), a small number of patients with CP use an inordinate amount of acute care resources. The investigators study will use a randomized controlled (RCT) design to conduct a pilot evaluation of the impact of a Complex Interdisciplinary Pain Assessment Program (CIPAP) linked with primary care physicians (PCP) compared to a treatment as usual (TAU) control arm.
The investigators hypothesis is that implementing a CIPAP will increase health care value through improved patient outcomes and reduced costs in HFV with chronic pain (CP-HFV). The investigators believe that a CIPAP will provide CP-HFV patients long-term pain management solutions, ED visits for CP will be reduced, and hospital admissions for CP will be prevented. This pilot RCT study will inform a larger-scale RCT study to be conducted in the future.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Adult (18+ years old)
* Working knowledge of English or French
* Presented to The Ottawa Hospital Emergency Department (TOH ED) with a primary complaint of chronic or recurrent pain a minimum of 8 times over the last 12 months, with 3 of the visits occurring in the 3 months prior to study enrollment.
* Patients fit criteria for chronic pain (CP) if they have had "pain that has lasted longer than three months." As per the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) taxonomy of CP syndromes, this includes: "relatively generalized syndromes," "relatively localized syndromes of the head and neck," "spine and radicular pain syndromes," "local syndromes of the upper limbs," and "visceral pain syndromes."
Exclusion Criteria:
* Malignant pain - patients will be referred to our complex cancer pain program
* Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale Level 1 and Level 2; Level 3 will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and we will document reason for exclusion
* Refusal or inability to provide consent
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Change from baseline in pain-related disability, as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory - Pain Interference scale, at 12-months post-study enrollment