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Trials
Published in: Trials 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Study protocol

A multicomponent intervention for the management of chronic pain in older adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Authors: Sheung-Tak Cheng, Ka Long Chan, Rosanna W. L. Lau, Monique H. T. Mok, Phoon Ping Chen, Yu Fat Chow, Joanne W. Y. Chung, Alexander C. B. Law, Jenny S. W. Lee, Edward M. F. Leung, Cindy W. C. Tam

Published in: Trials | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Studies have shown that physical interventions and psychological methods based on the cognitive behavioral approach are efficacious in alleviating pain and that combining both tends to yield more benefits than either intervention alone. In view of the aging population with chronic pain and the lack of evidence-based pain management programs locally, we developed a multicomponent intervention incorporating physical exercise and cognitive behavioral techniques and examined its long-term effects against treatment as usual (i.e., pain education) in older adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain in Hong Kong.

Methods/design

We are conducting a double-blind, cluster-randomized controlled trial. A sample of 160 participants aged ≥ 60 years will be recruited from social centers or outpatient clinics and will be randomized on the basis of center/clinic to either the multicomponent intervention or the pain education program. Both interventions consist of ten weekly sessions of 90 minutes each. The primary outcome is pain intensity, and the secondary outcomes include pain interference, pain persistence, pain self-efficacy, pain coping, pain catastrophizing cognitions, health-related quality of life, depressive symptoms, and hip and knee muscle strength. All outcome measures will be collected at baseline, postintervention, and at 3 and 6 months follow-up. Intention-to-treat analysis will be performed using mixed-effects regression to see whether the multicomponent intervention alleviates pain intensity and associated outcomes over and above the effects of pain education (i.e., a treatment × time intervention effect).

Discussion

Because the activities included in the multicomponent intervention were carefully selected for ready implementation by allied health professionals in general, the results of this study, if positive, will make available an efficacious, nonpharmacological pain management program that can be widely adopted in clinical and social service settings and will hence improve older people’s access to pain management services.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-IIR-16008387. Registered on 28 April 2016.
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Metadata
Title
A multicomponent intervention for the management of chronic pain in older adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors
Sheung-Tak Cheng
Ka Long Chan
Rosanna W. L. Lau
Monique H. T. Mok
Phoon Ping Chen
Yu Fat Chow
Joanne W. Y. Chung
Alexander C. B. Law
Jenny S. W. Lee
Edward M. F. Leung
Cindy W. C. Tam
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Trials / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1745-6215
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-017-2270-3

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