Outcomes and reflections on a consensus-building workshop for developing a spinal cord injury-related chronic pain research agenda

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2017 · DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2015.1136115 · Published: May 1, 2017

Spinal Cord Injury Pain Management Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

Chronic pain after spinal cord injury (SCI) significantly lowers quality of life, but effective management is limited. A 2006 consensus-building workshop engaged experts to create a research plan for SCI-related chronic pain. This article outlines the workshop's processes and results in advancing SCI-related pain research in Canada and comments on current SCI pain knowledge. The workshop involved 39 participants including researchers, clinicians, policymakers, SCI advocates, and people with SCI using a modified Delphi approach. They aimed to identify the top five SCI pain research priorities to enhance quality of life post-SCI, also discussing project planning and support. The workshop successfully outlined a research roadmap for SCI-related chronic pain, which led to five pilot projects. Current research shows more activity in addressing pain post-SCI, yet evidence-based solutions are still lacking. This article revisits the workshop's agenda to see what progress has been made.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

39 stakeholders (researchers, clinicians, policy-makers, SCI advocates, and people with SCI)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The top five pain research priorities identified were pain management and treatment, measurement tools, health services policy and advocacy, knowledge transfer, and mechanisms of pain.
2
The consensus workshop outcomes led to the initiation of five pilot studies to advance work on some of the identified priorities.
3
Reflections on the current research landscape suggest increased activity towards addressing pain post-SCI, but evidence-based approaches are still lacking.

Research Summary

A consensus-building workshop in 2006 aimed to develop a research agenda for SCI-related chronic pain, involving 39 stakeholders and using a modified Delphi approach to identify top research priorities. The workshop identified five key research priorities: pain management and treatment, measurement tools, health services policy and advocacy, knowledge transfer, and mechanisms of pain, leading to the initiation of five pilot studies. Despite progress in some areas, the ability to effectively translate research findings into clinical practice remains problematic, highlighting the need for continued efforts to address chronic pain following SCI and improve quality of life.

Practical Implications

Research Prioritization

Focus research efforts on the five identified priorities: pain management, measurement tools, health policy, knowledge transfer, and pain mechanisms.

Clinical Practice Improvement

Translate research findings into effective clinical practices to improve pain management for individuals with SCI.

Policy and Advocacy

Advocate for increased funding and resources for pain research and treatment within the SCI community.

Study Limitations

1
The achieved consensus simply reflects an expert group’s opinion and should be interpreted as such.
2
The resulting priorities are reflective of but may not be generalizable to the larger SCI-related pain field.
3
There have been only a few studies to-date examining SCI-related pain and health utilization.

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