Journal of Pain Research (Jun 2023)
Effectiveness of Communication Strategies in the Management of Chronic Postsurgical Pain: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Abstract
Asha-Naima Ferrante,1,2 Barbara K Keller,1 Julian S Flury,1 Michael A Harnik,3 Martin grosse Holtforth,2,4 Maria M Wertli1,5 1Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, 3010, Switzerland; 2Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, 3012, Switzerland; 3Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; 4Psychosomatic Competence Center, University Hospital of Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, 3010, Switzerland; 5Department of Internal Medicine, Kantonsspital Baden, Baden, 5404, SwitzerlandCorrespondence: Asha-Naima Ferrante, Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Inselspital, Freiburgstrasse 18, Bern, 3010, Switzerland, Email [email protected]: To describe the details of a systematic review to assess the current evidence about the efficacy of communication strategies on the prevention of chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP).Methods: The protocol for this systematic review was based on the Cochrane Handbook methodology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) recommendations. A systematic search of the literature on electronic databases Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science (from the inception to 19 June 2022) was carried out using predefined search terms to identify relevant studies. This review will include randomized clinical trials or observational studies. The search strategy consisted of keywords and index terms related to “clinician”, “communication” or “post-surgical pain”. Inclusion criteria are as follows: randomized clinical trials or observational studies using a parallel group design that assess the efficacy of communication interventions in patients undergoing surgery and that assess pain and pain-related disability. We considered interventions that included any type of written, verbal, and non-verbal communication in combination with other interventions or without. Control groups may include no communication intervention or another intervention distinctly different. We excluded studies with follow-up duration of less than 3 months, patients aged < 18 years, and studies for which no reviewer had language proficiency (eg, Chinese, Korean). Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize quantitative findings. Meta-analysis will only be considered if at least three studies used the same outcome with comparable interventions, as we expect a wide heterogeneity of study population and settings.Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis will be an important source for clinicians and researchers to understand the influence of communication to prevent CPSP.Study Registration: This protocol is registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). Registration number: CRD42021241596.Keywords: chronic post-surgical pain, communication, education, pain prevention, systematic review
