Changes in pain, daily occupations, lifestyle, and health following an occupational therapy lifestyle intervention: a secondary analysis from a feasibility study in patients with chronic high-impact pain.

OBJECTIVES: This study explored changes in pain-related parameters, occupational function, occupational balance, lifestyle factors, and self-perceived health status in adults with chronic high-impact pain participating in an occupational therapy lifestyle intervention. METHODS: This one-group longitudinal feasibility study was performed in three continuous feasibility rounds. The occupational therapists-led intervention targeted meaningful occupations, regular physical activity, and a healthy diet. The intervention contained individual and group sessions and was added to the standard multidisciplinary chronic pain treatment. Outpatients (n=40, 85 % females, 46.6 ± 10.9 years old) participated in the study between April 2019 and December 2021. The analysis includes data for 31 participants. Analysis of pre-post changes assessed after each feasibility round were performed for the outcomes: pain intensity, pain sensitivity and pain modulation (pressure pain threshold and tolerance, temporal summation of pain and conditioned pain modulation), pain self-efficacy, pain catastrophizing, motor and process skills, occupational balance, daily wake-time movement, daily walking steps, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, and self-perceived health status. RESULTS: Improvements in motor skills (assessment of motor and process skills score=0.20 (1.37; 1.57), 95 % CI 0.01; 0.38) and temporal summation of pain (-1.19 (2.86; -1.67), 95 % CI -2.16; -0.22), but a decrease in pain tolerance (-7.110 (54.42; 47.32), 95 % CI -13.99; -0.22) were observed. Correlation analysis suggested moderate-to-very strong statistically significant relationships in several outcomes related to pain, health, pain coping, occupational balance, occupational functioning, body anthropometrics, and pain sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that the lifestyle intervention would benefit motor skills while effects on other outcomes were unclear in adults with chronic pain. To confirm the findings, a randomized trial evaluating effectiveness is needed. Ethical committee number: SJ-307 Reg. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03903900.

Clinical utility of the Danish version of the Self-Assessment of Modes Questionnaire (D-SAMQ).

BACKGROUND: The the Self-Assessment of Modes Questionnaire (SAMQ) has been translated into Danish and culturally adapted (D-SAMQ), and aspects of validity and reliability have also been evaluated. However, no knowledge about the clinical utility of the D-SAMQ exists. AIMS/OBJECTIVES: The aims were to investigate the clinical utility of the D-SAMQ among Danish occupational therapists (OTs) and occupational therapy students (OTSs), and to determine differences in perceived clinical utility between the two groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data was collected using an online survey consisting of 17 questions related to four dimensions of clinical utility; appropriateness, accessibility, practicability, and acceptability. RESULTS: A total of 25 OTs and 41 OTSs participated. The clinical utility was perceived to be high across all questions related to the four dimensions. No statistically significant differences were found between OTs and OTSs in any of the four dimensions. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: The D-SAMQ is ready for use in occupational therapy practice, education, and research. D-SAMQ can be used to gain insight into own therapeutic style. This insight serves as a basis for facilitating therapeutic relationships with the clients during the process of enabling engagement in occupation.

Occupational therapy lifestyle intervention added to multidisciplinary treatment for adults living with chronic pain: a feasibility study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of an occupational therapy lifestyle intervention for adults living with chronic pain. DESIGN: This one-group pre-post interventional study investigated the feasibility and outcomes of the Redesign Your Everyday Activities and Lifestyle with Occupational Therapy (REVEAL(OT)) intervention targeting meaningful activities and lifestyle. SETTINGS: The occupational therapist-led intervention was added to standard multidisciplinary chronic pain treatment at a Danish pain centre. PARTICIPANTS: Of the 40 adult participants aged 18-64 (mean 46.6±10.9 years old, 85% females, chronic pain duration ≥3 months), there were 31 completers. INTERVENTION: Three feasibility rounds were carried out in 2019-2021. The intervention focused on meaningful activities, healthy eating habits and daily physical activity. Methods of didactical presentations, group discussions, personal reflection and experiential learning were used in the intervention composed both of individual and group sessions. OUTCOMES: Primary outcomes were predefined research progression criteria evaluated by the red-amber-green method. Secondary outcomes measured pre-post changes in health-related quality of life and occupational performance and satisfaction. RESULTS: The study demonstrated satisfactory programme adherence (77.5%), patients' self-perceived relevance (97%), timing and mode of delivery (97%) and assessment procedure acceptance (95%). No adverse events causing discontinuation occurred. Recruitment rate (n=5.7 monthly), retention (77.5%) and the fidelity of delivery (83.3%) needed improvement. We observed no improvement in health-related quality of life (mean=0.04, 95% CI -0.03 to 0.12) but positive change in occupational performance (mean=1.80, 95% CI 1.25 to 2.35) and satisfaction (mean=1.95, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.84). The participants reached the minimal clinically important difference for occupational performance (≥3.0 points in 13.8%) and satisfaction (≥3.2 points in 24.0%). CONCLUSIONS: The REVEAL(OT) intervention was feasible to deliver and beneficial for the participants' occupational performance and satisfaction. The interventions' recruitment, retention and delivery strategies need optimisation in a future definitive trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03903900.

The Effect of Occupational Engagement on Lifestyle in Adults Living with Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Healthy lifestyle is important to decrease health risks in individuals living with chronic pain. From an occupational therapy perspective, human health and lifestyle are linked to occupational engagement in meaningful everyday activities. This study is aimed at investigating the effect of including occupational engagement in chronic pain interventions on lifestyle. Methods: In this systematic review (PROSPERO reg. CRD42020159279), we included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on interventions involving occupational engagement (i.e., occupational performance based on involvement, choice, positive meaning, and commitment) and assessing modifiable lifestyle factors: physical activity, body anthropometrics, alcohol consumption, smoking, stress, and sleep. We sought the databases Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science, OTseeker, ClinicalTrials.gov, OpenGrey, and the web engine Google Scholar and citations and references of relevant publications. We evaluated methodological quality with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool 2.0, determined the overall evidence certainty using the GRADE methodology, and performed meta-analysis when two or more trials reported on the outcomes. Results: Of the 9526 items identified, 286 were full text screened. We included twelve articles with eleven RCTs comprising 995 adults and assessing physical activity, sleep quality, stress, and Body Mass Index. Sufficient data for meta-analysis was only available for physical activity and sleep quality. The meta-analysis suggested a moderate increase in physical activity after behavioral interventions for fibromyalgia and musculoskeletal pain (SMD = 0.69 (0.29; 1.09)) and a small increase in sleep quality up to 6 months after multidisciplinary self-management of fibromyalgia (SMD = 0.35 (95% CI 0.08; 0.61)). The overall certainty of the evidence was deemed low. Conclusion: Including occupational engagement in chronic pain interventions may increase short-term physical activity and long-term sleep quality. Due to the few available RCTs including occupational engagement in chronic pain treatment for adults living with chronic pain, further high-quality RCTs are needed and will likely change the conclusion.

Associations of health-related quality of life with sociodemographic characteristics, health, pain, and lifestyle factors, and motivation for changing lifestyle in adults living with chronic pain: a cross-sectional exploratory study.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the associations between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and health, pain and lifestyle factors, as well as motivation for lifestyle changes, in adults living with chronic pain referred to a Danish pain centre. METHODS: A total of 144 outpatients completed a questionnaire on HRQoL (EQ-5D-5L), health, pain, lifestyle factors (Body Mass Index [BMI], physical activity, smoking, alcohol, physical fitness, eating, sleep and stress) and motivation for lifestyle changes. We used multiple linear regression analyses to assess associations between HRQoL and the independent variables. RESULTS: The participants (age mean 50 years, 81% females) had ≥2 body pain sites (93%), BMI≥25 (64%), sedentary lifestyle (43%) and multiple (n≥2) elevated metabolic risk factors (58%). Most considered lifestyle important for HRQoL (72%) and expressed moderate to very high motivation for changing lifestyle (92%). Poorer HRQoL in the study population was significantly associated with higher pain intensity in the most painful body site (ß=-0.316, p=0.001) and very poor sleep quality (ß=-0.410, p=0.024). Serious-to-extreme problems in usual activities were associated with significantly poorer health (ß=-0.328, p=0.030). CONCLUSIONS: Adults living with chronic pain participating in this survey had significantly lower self-evaluated HRQoL than the general population. Lower HRQoL was significantly associated with greater pain intensity and poor sleep quality. Serious-to-extreme problems in usual activities, such as work, study, housework, family and leisure, were associated with poorer self-evaluated health. We observed high frequencies of overweight, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, pain in multiple body sites and multiple lifestyle-related risk factors in the study population. Most participants felt motivated for changing lifestyle. Further interventions addressing pain alleviation, sleep quality, prevention of problems in usual activities and promotion of healthy lifestyle, e.g. physical activity and healthy eating, are needed to estimate the effect of a lifestyle-oriented approach on health and quality of life in people living with chronic pain. The results of this study will inform the research project reg. SJ-703, the Danish the Research Ethics Committee for Region Zealand, Denmark.

Translating the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure to Danish, addressing face and content validity.

BACKGROUND: The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) is a recognized assessment tool within Danish occupational therapy (OT), and translated versions of the COPM have been implemented in Danish OT practice. However, a rigorous translation and cross-cultural validation process has not been applied to these versions. AIMS: To produce a new Danish translation of the COPM evaluating its semantic, conceptual, operational and item equivalence while addressing its face and content validity. METHODS: An iterative, multistage translation process was undertaken with (1) forward translation involving professional translators and bilingual OTs, (2) pilot testing and cognitive debriefing interviews with 15 OTs and 37 clients which were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively, and (3) finalization with adaptations, back translation and approval. RESULTS: Content validity of COPM in terms of appropriateness, acceptability, intelligibility and comprehensiveness was found in 78-100% of the cases, and its ability to ensure a client-centred focus in the assessment process was confirmed. However, issues concerning the administration and content of the COPM were identified. Subsequently, two recommendations regarding the administration of the COPM were added to the Danish version. CONCLUSION: Semantic, conceptual, operational and aspects of item equivalence of the COPM into Danish were achieved and supported by face and content validity.

A survey on client-centered practice among danish occupational therapists.

BACKGROUND: In Denmark, the cost of healthcare services comprise 12% of the gross domestic product. A recommended method for optimizing effectiveness of and enhance client satisfaction with healthcare is client-centred practice (CCP), a central component of occupational therapy ideology. However, Danish occupational therapists' perceptions of CCP, including the facilitators and barriers that may contribute to CCP, have never been examined. AIM: To examine Danish occupational therapists' perceptions of CCP. METHODS: A survey was conducted using an electronic questionnaire in a small, but representative sample of Danish occupational therapists from all regions and practices. RESULTS: Three hundred and forty-six occupational therapists (5%) responded. Of these, 98% rated CCP as important, 97% considered their work client-centred, and 92% were satisfied with their level of CCP. Having time to conduct self-directed work, using assessments to identify clients' priorities, and CCP education, but not fixed regimes, were positively correlated with CCP. CONCLUSION: Danish occupational therapists perceive to practice CCP and appear to have adopted the beliefs, theory and ideals of CCP, perhaps influenced by the egalitarian Danish culture. Self-directed work, means to identify and evaluate their clients' wishes, and education facilitated CCP. Possible absence of occupational therapists not compliant with CCP makes further research warranted.

Is therapeutic judgement influenced by the patient's socio-economic status? A factorial vignette survey.

Background In Denmark patients are entitled to rehabilitation regardless of socio-economic status (SES). During this process therapists have to balance cost effectiveness with providing equal treatment. Aim To investigate whether occupational therapists and physiotherapists were influenced by the patient's SES. Material and method An experimental factorial vignette survey was used. Four different vignettes describing fictitious patient cases with different SES variables were randomly allocated to therapists working in somatic hospitals. Thereafter, the therapists judged specific clinical situations and general attitudes in relation to the patient's SES. Chi-square was used to test the statistical association between the variables. Results No statistically significant associations were found between the specific clinical situations and the patient's SES. A statistical significant association was found between general attitudes and the patient's SES. Subgroup analysis revealed a statistically significant association between the therapist's gender, age, and the therapeutic judgement in relation to SES. Conclusion In the specific clinical situations, Danish therapists seem to maintain their professional ethical principles, although they might face ethical dilemmas during their clinical decision-making. In order to prevent and resolve these dilemmas, they have to be made explicit. However, further research on how SES influences the health care professional's judgement is warranted.