A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

The effect of peer group management intervention on chronic pain intensity, number of areas of pain, and pain self-efficacy




AuthorsReilimo, Marjatta Inkeri; Sainio, Markku; Liira, Juha; Laurola, Marjukka

PublisherWALTER DE GRUYTER GMBH

Publishing placeBERLIN

Publication year2025

JournalScandinavian Journal of Pain

Journal name in sourceSCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PAIN

Journal acronymSCAND J PAIN

Article number 20240018

Volume25

Issue1

Number of pages12

ISSN1877-8860

eISSN1877-8879

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1515/sjpain-2024-0018

Web address https://doi.org/10.1515/sjpain-2024-0018

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/491597137


Abstract

Objectives
Chronic pain causes loss of workability, and pharmacological treatment is often not sufficient, whereas psychosocial treatments may relieve continual pain. This study aimed to investigate the effect of peer group management intervention among patients with chronic pain.

Methods
The participants were 18–65-year-old employees of the Municipality of Helsinki (women 83%) who visited an occupational health care physician, nurse, psychologist, or physiotherapist for chronic pain lasting at least 3 months. An additional inclusion criterion was an elevated risk of work disability. Our study was a stepped wedge cluster, randomized controlled trial, and group interventions used mindfulness, relaxation, cognitive behavioral therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy. We randomized sixty participants to either a pain management group intervention or to a waiting list with the same intervention 5 months later. After dropouts, 48 employees participated in 6 weekly group meetings. We followed up participants from groups A, B, and C for 12 months and groups D, E, and F for 6 months. As outcome measures, we used the pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, the number of areas of pain, the visual analog scale of pain, and the pain self-efficacy. We adjusted the results before and after the intervention for panel data, clustering effect, and time interval.

Results
The peer group intervention decreased the number of areas of pain by 40%, from 5.96 (1–10) to 3.58 (p < 0.001), and increased the pain self-efficacy by 15%, from 30.4 to 37.5 (p < 0.001). Pain intensity decreased slightly, but not statistically significantly, from 7.1 to 6.8.

Conclusions
Peer group intervention for 6 weeks among municipal employees with chronic pain is partially effective. The number of areas of pain and pain self-efficacy were more sensitive indicators of change than the pain intensity. Any primary care unit with sufficient resources may implement the intervention.


Downloadable publication

This is an electronic reprint of the original article.
This reprint may differ from the original in pagination and typographic detail. Please cite the original version.




Funding information in the publication
Research was funded by the Finnish Work Environment Fund, project number: 115395.


Last updated on 2025-28-04 at 17:53