Intervention Therapies to Reduce Pain-Related Fear in Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different interventions at reducing pain-related fear in people with fibromyalgia and to analyze whether the included trials reported their interventions in full detail. DESIGN: Systematic review. SETTING: No restrictions. METHODS: The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus were searched from their inception to April 2020, along with manual searches and a gray literature search. Randomized clinical trials were included if they assessed pain-related fear constructs as the primary or secondary outcome in adults with fibromyalgia. Two reviewers independently performed the study selection, data extraction, risk-of-bias assessment, Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist assessment, and grading the quality of evidence. RESULTS: Twelve randomized clinical trials satisfied the eligibility criteria, including 11 cohorts with a total sample of 1,441 participants. Exercise, multicomponent, and psychological interventions were more effective than controls were in reducing kinesiophobia. However, there were no differences in decreasing kinesiophobia when self-management and electrotherapy were used. There were also no differences between groups with regard to the rest of the interventions and pain-related constructs (fear-avoidance beliefs, fear of pain, and pain-related anxiety). However, a serious risk of bias and a very serious risk of imprecision were detected across the included trials. This caused the overall certainty of the judged evidence to be low and very low. Additionally, the included trials reported insufficient details to allow the full replication of their interventions. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review shows that there are promising interventions, such as exercise, multicomponent, and psychological therapies, that may decrease one specific type of fear in people with fibromyalgia, i.e., kinesiophobia. However, because of the low-very low certainty of the evidence found, a call for action is needed to improve the quality of randomized clinical trials, which will lead to more definitive information about the clinical efficacy of interventions in this field.

Kinesiophobia Is Associated With Pain Intensity and Disability in Chronic Shoulder Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: Kinesiophobia is a clinically relevant factor in the management of chronic musculoskeletal pain. The aim of this study was to explore the cross-sectional association between kinesiophobia and both pain intensity and disability among individuals with chronic shoulder pain. METHODS: A total of 65 participants with chronic unilateral subacromial shoulder pain were recruited from 3 primary care centers. The Shoulder Pain and Disability Index assessed pain intensity and disability. The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia short form assessed the presence of kinesiophobia. A linear multivariable regression analysis evaluated the potential association between kinesiophobia and range of movement free of pain with pain intensity and disability. The analysis was adjusted for sex and age. RESULTS: In the linear multivariable regression analysis, only greater kinesiophobia (standardized ß = 0.35, P < .01) and sex (standardized ß = -0.29, P < .01) contributed to explain 19% of the variance in shoulder pain and disability scores. CONCLUSION: This cross-sectional study provides preliminary evidence about the association between kinesiophobia and pain intensity and disability among individuals with chronic shoulder pain. However, our findings only contributed to explain 19% of the variance in shoulder pain and disability scores.

Conservative Interventions Reduce Fear in Individuals With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review and critically appraise the effectiveness of conservative and surgical interventions to reduce fear in studies of people with chronic low back pain, based on the analysis of randomized controlled trials for which fear was a primary or secondary outcome. DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PEDro, and CENTRAL, as well as manual searches and grey literature were searched from inception until May 2019. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized controlled trials analyzing the effectiveness of conservative and surgical interventions to reduce fear were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Two reviewers independently conducted the search strategy, study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and quality of the evidence judgment. DATA SYNTHESIS: Sixty-one studies (n=7201) were included. A large number of fear-related search terms were used but only 3 fear constructs (kinesiophobia, fear-avoidance beliefs, fear of falling) were measured in the included studies. Multidisciplinary and psychological interventions as well as exercise reduced kinesiophobia. Fear-avoidance beliefs were reduced by the aforementioned interventions, manual therapy, and electrotherapy. A multidisciplinary intervention reduced the fear of falling. There was moderate evidence of multidisciplinary interventions and exercise to reduce kinesiophobia. There was moderate evidence of manual therapy and electrotherapy to reduce fear-avoidance beliefs. CONCLUSIONS: The present systematic review highlights the potential effectiveness of conservative interventions to reduce kinesiophobia and fear-avoidance beliefs in individuals with chronic low back pain. This information can help health professionals to reduce fear when treating patients with this condition.

Effectiveness of an Osteopathic Abdominal Manual Intervention in Pain Thresholds, Lumbopelvic Mobility, and Posture in Women with Chronic Functional Constipation.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of an osteopathic abdominal manual intervention (AMI) on pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), mobility, hip flexibility, and posture in women with chronic functional constipation. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. SETTING/LOCATION: Subjects were recruited for the study by referral from different gastroenterology outpatient clinics in the city of Madrid (Spain). SUBJECTS: Sixty-two patients suffering from chronic functional constipation according to the guidelines of the Congress of Rome III. INTERVENTIONS: The experimental group (n = 31) received an osteopathic AMI, and the control group (n = 31) received a sham procedure. OUTCOME MEASURES: PPTs at different levels, including vertebral levels C7, T3, T10, T11, and T12, trunk flexion range of motion (ROM), hip flexibility, and posture, were measured before and immediately after the intervention. A comparison between the difference between the pre- and postintervention values using the Student's t test for independent samples or nonparametric U-Mann-Whitney test depending on the distribution normality of the analyzed variables was perfomed. RESULTS: In the intergroup comparison, statistically significant differences were found in PPT at T11 (p = 0.011) and T12 (p = 0.001) and also in the trunk flexion ROM (p < 0.05). Moreover, women showed no adverse effects with acceptable pain tolerance to the intervention. CONCLUSION: The application of an osteopathic AMI is well tolerated and improves pain sensitivity in areas related to intestinal innervation, as well as lumbar flexion.

Impact on quality of life of a nursing intervention programme for patients with chronic non-cancer pain: an open, randomized controlled parallel study protocol.

AIM: To determine the effect of a nurse-led intervention programme for patients with chronic non-cancer pain. BACKGROUND: Chronic non-cancer pain is a widespread health problem and one that is insufficiently controlled. Nurses can play a vital role in pain management, using best practices in the assessment and management of pain under a holistic approach where the patient plays a proactive role in addressing the disease process. Improving the quality of life, reducing disability, achieving acceptance of health status, coping and breaking the vicious circle of pain should be the prime objectives of our care management programme. DESIGN: Open randomized parallel controlled study. METHODS: The experimental group will undertake one single initial session, followed by six group sessions led by nurses, aimed at empowering patients for the self-management of pain. Healthy behaviours will be encouraged, such as sleep and postural hygiene, promotion of physical activity and healthy eating. Educational interventions on self-esteem, pain-awareness, communication and relaxing techniques will be carried out. As primary end points, quality of life, perceived level of pain, anxiety and depression will be evaluated. Secondary end points will be coping and satisfaction. Follow-up will be performed at 12 and 24 weeks. The study was approved by the Ethics and Research Committee Costa del Sol. DISCUSSION: If significant effects were detected, impact on quality of life through a nurse-led programme would offer a complementary service to existing pain clinics for a group of patients with frequent unmet needs.

Situaciones de cronicidad compleja y coordinación sociosanitaria / Complex chronic care situations and socio-health coordination

La atención centrada en la persona es una de las metas más perseguidas en los servicios de salud actuales. Es necesario poder garantizar un nivel suficiente de trabajo cooperativo y coordinado entre distintos proveedores y entornos, que incluya a la familia, y recursos sociales y comunitarios. La integración clínica se produce cuando el cuidado de los pacientes prestado por profesionales y proveedores se integra en un único y coherente proceso a través de las diferentes profesiones mediante el uso de guías y protocolos compartidos. Dicha coordinación puede desarrollarse a tres niveles: macro, que supone la integración de uno o más de los tres elementos básicos que sustentan la atención de salud (el plan de salud, la atención primaria y la atención especializada), con el objetivo de reducir la fragmentación de la atención; meso, donde se coordinan los servicios sanitarios y sociales para dar una atención integral a personas mayores y pacientes crónicos; y micro, cuando el objetivo es la mejora en la coordinación en pacientes individuales y cuidadores. La instauración de nuevos roles, como el de enfermeras de práctica avanzada, la mejora de la capacidad de resolución de médicos de familia en ciertos procesos, o la modificación del lugar de provisión de determinados servicios son claves para garantizar servicios adaptados a las necesidades de los pacientes crónicos

Patient-centered healthcare is currently one of the most pursued goals in health services. It is necessary to ensure a sufficient level of cooperative and coordinated work between different providers and settings, including family and social and community resources. Clinical integration occurs when the care provided by health professionals and providers is integrated into a single coherent process through different professions using shared guidelines and protocols. Such coordination can be developed at three levels: macro, which involves the integration of one or more of the three basic elements that support health care (the health plan, primary care and specialty care), with the aim of reducing fragmentation of care; meso, where health and social services are coordinated to provide comprehensive care to elderly and chronic patients; and micro, aimed to improve coordination in individual patients and caregivers. The implementation of new roles, such as Advanced Practice Nursing, along with improvements in family physicians’ problem-solving capacity in certain processes, or modifying the place of provision of certain services are key to ensure services adapted to the requirements of chronic patients

[Complex chronic care situations and socio-health coordination]. / Situaciones de cronicidad compleja y coordinación sociosanitaria.

Patient-centered healthcare is currently one of the most pursued goals in health services. It is necessary to ensure a sufficient level of cooperative and coordinated work between different providers and settings, including family and social and community resources. Clinical integration occurs when the care provided by health professionals and providers is integrated into a single coherent process through different professions using shared guidelines and protocols. Such coordination can be developed at three levels: macro, which involves the integration of one or more of the three basic elements that support health care (the health plan, primary care and specialty care), with the aim of reducing fragmentation of care; meso, where health and social services are coordinated to provide comprehensive care to elderly and chronic patients; and micro, aimed to improve coordination in individual patients and caregivers. The implementation of new roles, such as Advanced Practice Nursing, along with improvements in family physicians' problem-solving capacity in certain processes, or modifying the place of provision of certain services are key to ensure services adapted to the requirements of chronic patients.

Effectiveness of olive oil for the prevention of pressure ulcers caused in immobilized patients within the scope of primary health care: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Pressure ulcers are considered an important issue, mainly affecting immobilized older patients. These pressure ulcers increase the care burden for the professional health service staff as well as pharmaceutical expenditure. There are a number of studies on the effectiveness of different products used for the prevention of pressure ulcers; however, most of these studies were carried out at a hospital level, basically using hyperoxygenated fatty acids (HOFA). There are no studies focused specifically on the use of olive-oil-based products and therefore this research is intended to find the most cost-effective treatment and achieve an alternative treatment. METHODS/DESIGN: The main objective is to assess the effectiveness of olive oil, comparing it with HOFA, to treat immobilized patients at home who are at risk of pressure ulcers. As a secondary objective, the cost-effectiveness balance of this new application with regard to the HOFA will be assessed. The study is designed as a noninferiority, triple-blinded, parallel, multi-center, randomized clinical trial. The scope of the study is the population attending primary health centers in Andalucía (Spain) in the regional areas of Malaga, Granada, Seville, and Cadiz. Immobilized patients at risk of pressure ulcers will be targeted. The target group will be treated by application of an olive-oil-based formula whereas the control group will be treated by application of HOFA to the control group. The follow-up period will be 16 weeks. The main variable will be the presence of pressure ulcers in the patient. Secondary variables include sociodemographic and clinical information, caregiver information, and whether technical support exists. Statistical analysis will include the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, symmetry and kurtosis analysis, bivariate analysis using the Student's t and chi-squared tests as well as the Wilcoxon and the Man-Whitney U tests, ANOVA and multivariate logistic regression analysis. DISCUSSION: The regular use of olive-oil-based formulas should be effective in preventing pressure ulcers in immobilized patients, thus leading to a more cost-effective product and an alternative treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01595347.