Chronic Pain Management During a Pandemic

Chronic Pain Management During a Pandemic: Will Telemedicine Replace In-person Consultation

This is an open-label cohort study of chronic pain patients referred to an interdisciplinary community outpatient clinic. The aim of this study is to determine whether video consultations are non-inferior to regular consultations in diagnosing and planning subsequent interventions. The null hypothesis is that there is no difference in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases 10th edition (ICD-10) codes established via telehealth and subsequent clinic visits. The patients will complete standard health questionnaires online and undergo a structured and detailed interview to clarify the diagnosis and establish appropriate treatment. A limited telehealth physical examination based on direct observation will be conducted.

At the subsequent clinic visit, the accuracy of diagnosis and adherence to the plan of care will be evaluated.

The primary and secondary endpoints will be gathered from the electronic charts and from the recruited participants by questionnaires completed online one week after the telemedicine consultation. The diagnosis and plan of care semi-structured match will be performed during the in-person follow-up visit.

Inclusion Criteria:

all patients referred for consultation

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Not English-speakers
2. Patients who do not have any compatible telecommunication devices
3. Patients illiterate in basic telecommunication and have no one in their household to help
4. Patients unable to complete online self-assessment forms and study questionnaires
5. Patients unable to make a follow-up visit
6. Individuals with unstable pain complaints