Managing Non-Cancer Chronic Pain in Frail Older Adults: A Pilot Study Based on a Multidisciplinary Approach

Unidades de investigação

• Biomedicina

• Laboratório Associado RISE- Rede de Investigação em Saúde

  

  Investigador

  Fernando Carlos De Landér Schmitt

• RISE-Health

  

  Investigador

  Fernando Carlos De Landér Schmitt

Abstract

Considering the multidimensionality of chronic pain, it is crucial to develop comprehensive strategies for its effective management. However, establishing well-defined, evidence-based guidelines for such approaches remains challenging. To overcome this, we present the finding from a 4-month intervention to enhance the management of non-cancer chronic pain in older adults with pre-frailty and frailty. The intervention?s core elements comprised a multidisciplinary individualized plan, a case manager, and patient education. This pilot study involved 22 participants (?65 years). It assessed changes in pain frequency and intensity (pain scale), frailty (Fried frailty phenotype criteria), and medication adherence (Brief Adherence Rating Scale) before and after the 4-month intervention. The results were encouraging: pain frequency and intensity and frailty score tended to decrease, and medication adherence showed significant improvement. This preliminary small-scale pilot study provides a foundation for further research and for exploring the potential scalability of this multidisciplinary patient-centred intervention. ? 2023 by the authors.

Keywords

• Aged; Chronic Pain; Frail Elderly; Frailty; Geriatric Assessment; Humans; Pilot Projects; cancer; education; elderly population; frequency analysis; public health; aged; Article; awareness; body mass; body weight loss; case manager; chronic pain; clinical article; controlled study; female; follow up; frail elderly; frailty; health care personnel; health literacy; human; interdisciplinary research; male; medication compliance; pain intensity; patient education; phenotype; pilot study; social status; chronic pain; frail elderly; frailty; geriatric assessment; procedures