Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Integrated Article

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Supervisor

MacDermid, Joy

Co-Supervisor

Abstract

This Ph.D. dissertation aimed to develop a treatment decision aid for people with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) using the Ottawa Decision Support Framework (ODSF). The decision aid was developed throughout a two-phase process.

The first phase involved understanding the existing evidence and the factors influencing decision-making in CRPS rehabilitation: priorities and preferences of patients and therapists were considered. This phase encompassed the integration of diverse sources of evidence, including systematic reviews, overview of systematic reviews, critical appraisal of guidelines, and a survey exploring patients' and therapists' priorities and preferences for CRPS rehabilitation interventions. All forms of evidence were used to inform a draft decision aid. The second phase involved evaluating the content validity of the developed decision aid through cognitive interviews conducted with patients and therapists. These findings were presented in separate chapters.

The evidence suggested that specific interventions, including mirror therapy and the graded motor imagery program can significantly improve pain and disability for patients with CRPS. However, the most evidence is available in the post-stroke CRPS population, and these interventions showed promising outcomes when used as additions to conventional stroke rehabilitation interventions compared to common rehabilitation approaches. The effectiveness of other targeted interventions compared to conventional physical therapy or sham treatments remains to be determined due to limited evidence. Furthermore, the appraisal of guidelines highlighted that clinical practice guidelines for CRPS management rely mostly on expert opinion and clinical experience rather than robust empirical evidence. Based on the findings of evidence, clinical guidelines, and the patients’ and therapists’ opinion, recommendations for conservative management primarily focus on pain management, functional restoration, and inter/multidisciplinary care. Both patients and therapists emphasized the importance of reducing pain and improving overall function as critical outcomes. Shared decision-making emerged as the preferred approach for selecting a rehabilitation intervention among most patients and therapists.

The developed decision aid consists of two sections: an educational section and a decision aid section. The educational section provides patients with the concept of decision aid, the definition and diagnosis of CRPS, and a simple explanation of the available rehabilitation interventions. The decision aid section addresses key topics across seven subsections: 1. identifying important outcomes, 2. evaluating the effectiveness of interventions on specific outcomes, 3. weighing the pros and cons of each rehabilitation intervention, 4. highlighting key points to remember, 5. reflecting on priorities and preferences, 6. fact-checking information about CRPS, and 7. determining the patients' leaning towards making a final decision.

The development of this treatment decision aid represents a significant step forward in addressing the complexities of decision-making in CRPS rehabilitation. By incorporating evidence-based recommendations and the perspectives of patients and therapists, the decision aid aims to improve patient outcomes and facilitate collaborative decision-making processes. Implementing this decision aid in clinical settings is expected to empower patients, enhance their engagement in their care, and ultimately lead to more personalized and effective treatment approaches for individuals with CRPS.

Summary for Lay Audience

The goal of this Ph.D. thesis was to create a helpful tool for people with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) to make decisions about their treatment. The tool was developed in two stages. In the first stage, we gathered information from different sources to understand what factors influence decision-making in CRPS rehabilitation. We looked at existing studies, treatment guidelines, and we surveyed both patients and therapists to learn about their priorities, goals, and needs.

In the second stage, we tested the tool by talking to patients and therapists and getting their feedback. This helped us make sure the tool was useful and relevant to their needs. We presented our findings in separate chapters of the research. Based on the evidence we gathered, we found that certain treatments, like mirror therapy and the graded motor imagery program, can help reduce pain and improve function for people with CRPS. These treatments worked best when used alongside traditional rehabilitation approaches. Other treatments, like pain exposure therapy and adding aerobic exercises to physical therapy, also showed promise in reducing pain. However, there are still many other treatments that need more research before we can be confident, they help more than usual care. Our research also shows that clinical guidelines for CRPS management rely heavily on expert opinions and clinical experience, rather than strong scientific evidence. We recommend a conservative management approach that focuses on pain management, functional restoration, and interdisciplinary care based on the evidence we gathered and the opinions of patients and therapists. By using multiple sources of evidence, our project was able to provide a comprehensive overview of the available evidence for CRPS rehabilitation, while the survey added valuable insights from the perspectives of patients and therapists.

The decision aid we developed has two parts: an educational section and a decision support section. The educational section provides information on what a decision aid is, the definition and diagnosis of CRPS, and a simple explanation of the available rehabilitation options. The decision support section helps patients identify important outcomes, evaluate the effectiveness of different interventions, consider the pros and cons, reflect on their priorities and preferences, fact-check information about CRPS, and make a final decision.

Creating this decision aid was necessary because it helps people with CRPS make informed choices about their treatment. We used information from research and talked to patients and therapists to create the tool. The goal was to improve how patients make decision and make sure everyone is involved in the decision-making process. We want patients to feel more in control of their care and have treatments that work better for them. We hope therapists, clinicians, and clinics will use this tool to help patients and make their treatments more personalized and effective.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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