The Telehealth Tradeoff: A Multimethod Study of the Benefits and Challenges Associated With Maintaining Treatment Outcomes Using a Hybrid Model of Pediatric Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment.
Clin J Pain 2023;
39:307-318. [PMID:
37341690 DOI:
10.1097/ajp.0000000000001120]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
The COVID-19 pandemic required intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment (IIPT) programs to shift to virtual models of care. This study used a multimethod approach to examine outcomes of a pediatric hybrid IIPT program (50% in-person treatment and 50% synchronous video-based telehealth) and assessed staff experiences while treating within this model.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Patients (M=14.73, SD=2.04; 79% female) reported pain intensity, functional disability, and psychological factors (anxiety, depressive symptoms, fear of pain, pain catastrophizing, social functioning) at admission, discharge, and short-term follow-up. Differences in treatment outcomes at discharge and short-term follow-up between patients who participated in the hybrid IIPT model (n=42) during the pandemic and those who participated in the traditional in-person model before the pandemic (n=42) were examined. Quantitative assessments of staff burnout and perceived effort and qualitative assessments exploring staff perspectives about the challenges and advantages of the hybrid IIPT model were gathered.
RESULTS
Youth in both groups made significant improvements across the majority of treatment outcomes; however, the hybrid group reported higher levels of pain at discharge and anxiety at follow-up. The majority of IIPT staff reported moderate to high levels of overall burnout, and almost half reported high levels of emotional exhaustion. Staff highlighted various challenges and benefits associated with treating within the hybrid model.
DISCUSSION
When considering telehealth as a treatment tool for youth with complex chronic pain, it is crucial to leverage its benefits while addressing its challenges for patients and providers.
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