Effectiveness of Communication Strategies in the Management of Chronic Postsurgical Pain: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Purpose

To describe the details of a systematic review to assess the current evidence about the efficacy of communication strategies on the prevention of chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP).

Methods

The protocol for this systematic review was based on the Cochrane Handbook methodology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) recommendations. A systematic search of the literature on electronic databases Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science (from the inception to 19 June 2022) was carried out using predefined search terms to identify relevant studies. This review will include randomized clinical trials or observational studies. The search strategy consisted of keywords and index terms related to “clinician”, “communication” or “post-surgical pain”. Inclusion criteria are as follows: randomized clinical trials or observational studies using a parallel group design that assess the efficacy of communication interventions in patients undergoing surgery and that assess pain and pain-related disability. We considered interventions that included any type of written, verbal, and non-verbal communication in combination with other interventions or without. Control groups may include no communication intervention or another intervention distinctly different. We excluded studies with follow-up duration of less than 3 months, patients aged <18 years, and studies for which no reviewer had language proficiency (eg, Chinese, Korean). Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize quantitative findings. Meta-analysis will only be considered if at least three studies used the same outcome with comparable interventions, as we expect a wide heterogeneity of study population and settings.

Conclusion

This systematic review and meta-analysis will be an important source for clinicians and researchers to understand the influence of communication to prevent CPSP.

Study Registration

This protocol is registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). Registration number: CRD42021241596.

Keywords:

• chronic post-surgical pain
• communication
• education
• pain prevention
• systematic review

Abbreviations

CPSP, chronic postsurgical pain; SIGN, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Networks; RCT, randomized controlled trial; PRISMA, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses; IMMPACT, Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials; SMD, Standardized mean difference; CI, confidence interval; OR, odds ratio.

Ethics Approval

Ethics approval is not applicable for this study since no original data will be collected. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank SK for her support in compiling the search strategy and the systematic search.

Author Contributions

Asha-Naima Ferrante and Barbara K. Keller shared first authorship. Martin Grosse Holtforth and Maria M. Wertli shared last authorship. All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by UniBE [UniBE ID Grants 2019 of the University of Bern, Switzerland].