Telemedicine therapy among chronic pain patients during the COVID-19 pandemic

INTRODUCTION: Patients with chronic pain have been one of the most difficult patients to manage during the COVID-19 pandemic. As pain physicians navigate through this pandemic in order to maintain contact with their patients, telemedicine emerged as a very useful tool. It helped patients to access care despite being in distant areas, or during the lockdown period. The objective of this research is to assess the perception of chronic pain patients who received telemedicine therapy. Self-efficacy and coping level of pain among these chronic pain patients were also assessed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study involving patients who are under follow-up at the Chronic Pain Clinic, Hospital Pulau Pinang for more than a year and received telemedicine during this pandemic. Participants had to fill out a self-administered questionnaire. Once respondents completed the questionnaires, the answered questionnaires were collected for analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 154 patients between 22 and 88 years old were included in this study. Most of the participants had a history of pain for more than 3 years (44.2%). The majority of our patients are still working (55.8%). From the patients who were working, 7.8% of them lost their jobs during the pandemic. 31.2% of patients reported that the pain condition had worsened while the rest did not experience any difference in their pain condition. More than half (59%) of the patients' reported telemedicine was beneficial for their pain management, while only 41% felt that their telemedicine was helpless for their pain management during the pandemic.

CONCLUSION: Telemedicine is beneficial for patients with chronic pain. Telemedicine can be used poste-pandemic and may produce a good outcome with patients.