Transforming Chronic Pain Care Through Telemedicine
An Italian Perspective
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15484176 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Francesco Amato (0000-0003-4384-1646, Presidio Ospedaliero, corresponding author), Mario Monaco (0000-0001-8782-5061, Presidio Ospedaliero), Maria Carmela Monaco (UOC Terapia del Dolore e Cure Palliative Presidio Ospedaliero “Mariano Santo”, Contrada Muoio Piccolo snc, 87100 Cosenza, Italy), Silvia Ceniti (Presidio Ospedaliero) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue | 12 |
| Pages | 1626-1626 |
| Publication date | 2024-12-05 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601 |
| Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3390/ijerph21121626 |
| PMID | 39767467 |
| OpenAlex | W4405074614 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 48 |
Chronic pain (CP) is a complex and debilitating condition that significantly impairs quality of life and imposes a high burden on healthcare systems. This study aims to evaluate the impact of telemedicine on chronic pain management in cancer survivors with complex CP. Our multicenter retrospective investigation of cancer survivors with complex CP included 100 patients (median age 65 years, 62% female). Pain, disability, and self-perceived health status were assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and the EuroQolfive-dimension five-level (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire. The most common diagnoses were neuropathic pain (54%) and complex chronic pain (32%). Significant clinical improvements were observed after six months of telemedicine intervention (all p < 0.001). NRS scores improved by more than four points in 77% of patients, BPI Worst Pain Scores decreased by four points in 52% and by five points in 28% of patients. All patients' disability levels improved from severe (median ODI score of 52) to moderate (median ODI score of 30). Self-perceived health status improved from 40 to 60 on the EQ-5D-5L scale. Telemedicine interventions significantly reduced pain intensity, decreased disability levels, and enhanced quality of life in chronic pain patients. These findings underscore the transformative potential of telemedicine in chronic pain management and support its broader integration into medical practice
Alternative medicine · Anesthesia · Chronic pain · Health care · Low back pain · McGill Pain Questionnaire · Neuropathic pain · Oswestry Disability Index · Physical therapy · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Quality of life (healthcare · Telemedicine · Visual analogue scale · Medicine · Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation · Nursing · Pain Management and Opioid Use · Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
| Highly cited | No |
|---|