Canadian Journal of Pain (Jun 2022)
A memory-reframing intervention to reduce pain in youth undergoing major surgery: Pilot randomized controlled trial of feasibility and acceptability
Abstract
Background Three to 22% of youth undergoing surgery develop chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP). Negative biases in pain memories (i.e., recalling higher levels of pain as compared to initial reports) are a risk factor for CPSP development. Children’s memories for pain are modifiable. Existing memory-reframing interventions reduced negatively biased memories associated with procedural pain and pain after minor surgery. However, not one study has tested the feasibility and acceptability of the memory-reframing intervention in youth undergoing major surgery.Aims The current pilot randomized clinical trial (RCT; NCT03110367; clinicaltrials.gov) examined the feasibility and acceptability of, as well as adherence to, a memory reframing intervention.Methods Youth undergoing a major surgery reported their baseline and postsurgery pain levels. Four weeks postsurgery, youth and one of their parents were randomized to receive control or memory-reframing instructions. Following the instructions, parents and youth reminisced about the surgery either as they normally would (control) or using the memory-reframing strategies (intervention). Six weeks postsurgery, youth completed a pain memory interview; parents reported intervention acceptability. Four months postsurgery, youth reported their pain.Results Seventeen youth (76% girls, Mage = 14.1 years) completed the study. The intervention was feasible and acceptable. Parents, but not youth, adhered to the intervention principles. The effect sizes of the intervention on youth pain memories (ηp2 = 0.22) and pain outcomes (ηp2 = 0.23) were used to inform a larger RCT sample size.Conclusions Memory reframing is a promising avenue in pediatric pain research. Larger RCTs are needed to determine intervention efficacy to improve pain outcomes.
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