Background & Aims
The introduction of lockdown in 2020 has called for an adaptation of clinical practices to support chronic pain patients. To limit the onset of psychopathological complications due to the anxiety-provoking nature of the health crisis context, and to respond to calls from health authorities to continue monitoring care, psychologists and psychotherapists working in hospitals have adapted therapeutic patient education (TPE) and e-TPE workshops. A practice exchange group was set up to share clinical experiences of the health crisis.
Methods
The objectives of this study are to explore the adaptation of clinical practices for chronic pain sufferers and to propose recommendations based on collective reflection.
The clinical research methodology followed that of a focus group. Three two-hour videoconference meetings were held between September 2020 and May 2021. A thematic analysis of the transcripts was carried out using NVivo qualitative analysis software.
Results
9 women, psychologists and psychotherapists, took part in the focus group. The thematic analysis revealed three themes: (1) Impact of the health crisis linked to COVID-19; (2) Adaptation of practices; (3) Process of change in clinical practices. In this third theme, obstacles and levers were identified to explain how e-TPE could be implemented with painful patients.
Conclusions
Professionals report that the use of digital tools has made it possible to limit the psychological impact of the health crisis on patients, maintain the bond and promote access to care. Recommendations from the collective reflections suggest maintaining remote care and relying on the support of teams, hierarchy, and peer exchange groups.
References
Allé, M. C., Berna, F., Vidailhet, P., Giersch, A., & Mengin, A. C. (2020). Le confinement peut-il favoriser l’émergence de symptômes traumatiques ou psychotiques?? Revue de neuropsychologie, Volume 12(2), 196?203.
Masselin-Dubois, A., Enert-Barbero, N., Gazagne, A. (2022). Adaptation des pratiques psychologiques en clinique de la douleur durant la pandémie de la COVID-19. Pratiques Psychologiques. 28(2), 59-79.
Presenting Author
Anne Masselin-Dubois
Poster Authors
Anne Masselin-Dubois
PhD
Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté / Laboratoire, Psy-DREPI EA-7458
Lead Author
Nadège Enert-Bardero
Pain Consultation, Hospital Centre Toulon-La Seyne sur mer, France
Lead Author
Aurélie Gazagne
University of Aix-Marseille, France; European Chronic Disease Institute (IEMC), Toulon, France
Lead Author
Topics
- Access to Care