Pediatric pain rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic: exploring the effectiveness of a hybrid intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment model
Abstract
Purpose This study aimed to (1) examine improvements in rehabilitation outcomes after participation in a pediatric hybrid intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment model (50% in-person and 50% video-based telehealth) and (2) compare magnitude of hybrid model improvements to patients treated in a traditional, 100% in-person model prior to the pandemic. Materials and methods Rehabilitation outcomes for 33 youth with chronic pain from the model were compared to 33 youth with chronic pain who completed a traditional, in-person model. Improvements between admission and discharge in both models were examined using paired student t -tests. Independent samples t -tests compared change scores for the hybrid and traditional models. Results Participants in both models experienced significant improvements on all rehabilitation outcomes, including cardiovascular endurance, pain interference, functional disability, and occupational performance ( p p = 0.15). Change scores for rehabilitation outcomes did not significantly differ between models. Conclusions Quantitatively, hybrid model rehabilitation outcomes appeared clinically equivalent to the traditional, in-person model. Qualitative and psychosocial outcome comparisons of each model are warranted to better understand challenges and barriers associated with hybrid pain treatment models. The feasibility and impact of tools to enhance telehealth, such as actigraphy or virtual reality, should also be explored.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIO…
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It is likely that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted outcomes in this trial because almost all youth who enrolled post-COVID had their lives completely upended with extended school closures and shelter-in-place orders.
“It is likely that the pandemic impacted outcomes as almost all youth who enrolled in the trial post-covid had their lives completely upended with the extended closure of schools and shelter-in-place orders[50].”
From A randomized controlled trial of graded exposure treatment (GET living) for adolescents with chronic pain (2024) · cites this paper as [50]
One other study reports on and supports hybrid delivery of intensive interdisciplinary treatment for youth with chronic pain.
“This study represents one of the first to report on video delivery compared to in-person treatment in pediatric pain, with one other study reporting on and supporting hybrid delivery of intensive interdisciplinary treatment for youth with chronic pain[51].”
From A randomized controlled trial of graded exposure treatment (GET living) for adolescents with chronic pain (2024) · cites this paper as [51]
This study is one of the first to report on video delivery compared to in-person treatment in pediatric pain.
“This study represents one of the first to report on video delivery compared to in-person treatment in pediatric pain, with one other study reporting on and supporting hybrid delivery of intensive interdisciplinary treatment for youth with chronic pain[51].”
From A randomized controlled trial of graded exposure treatment (GET living) for adolescents with chronic pain (2024) · cites this paper as [51]
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Synchronous virtual care in children’s health care: a scoping review
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- Authors
- Shulman, J., Conroy, C., Bento, S., Bryant, G., Jervis, K., & Sethna, N. F.
- Affiliations
- Boston Children's Hospital (US)
- Corresponding author
- Shulman, Julie
- Venue
- Disability and Rehabilitation
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2022-09-21
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 19
- Pages
- 3079-3086
- ISSN
- 0963-8288 (ISSN-L)
- 1464-5165
- OpenAlex
- W4296700167
- Cited by
- 6
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2
- FWCI
- 1.37
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Disability and Rehabilitation (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Pediatric Pain Management Techniques
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Keywords
- pediatric chronic pain, pain rehabilitation, COVID-19 pandemic, rehabilitation outcomes, functional disability, pain interference, cardiorespiratory fitness, occupational performance, children and adolescents
- MeSH terms
- COVID-19, Adolescent, Child, Humans, Treatment Outcome, Pandemics, Chronic Pain, Pain Management
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