Effect of a multimedia training programme for pain management on pain intensity and depression in patients with non-specific chronic back pain.
Maryam Shaygan, Azita Jaberi, Roghayyeh Firozian and 2 others
PMID 35485626WHAT IT FOUND
Multimedia pain training showed no clear difference from routine care at each measured time for pain or depression.
Change over time differed between groups, and baseline depression was higher in the multimedia group.
Key findings
01Pain and depression scores changed over time in both the routine-care and multimedia groups.
02Change over time differed between groups for pain intensity and depression.
03The groups showed no clear difference at each measured time, and no clear difference when demographic variables were considered together with group.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only 30 participants were analysed in each group, although the sample-size calculation targeted 33 per group. Convenience sampling was used before random allocation, so the participants may not represent all patients with chronic low back pain. Pain and depression were measured only by self-report, and patients with chronic pain may exaggerate or minimise their reports. The multimedia group had higher baseline depression scores before the intervention. The intervention was a bundle of CDs, a face-to-face review, a pamphlet, and WhatsApp support, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated. The control group received routine care: physician visits, medication prescriptions and recommendations. Follow-up was only one month after the end of the intervention. The groups were not significantly different at each time point and after demographic adjustment, even though change over time differed.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that multimedia pain training clearly reduced pain or depression compared with routine care. The groups were not different at any measured time, and when demographic factors were considered together with group there was no clear difference. The difference in change over time does not by itself prove superiority. Also, the multimedia group started with higher depression scores.