Using CERS to Optimize Quality of Life for Persons With Diabetes and Chronic Pain (Living Healthy)

As many as 75% of people with diabetes report chronic pain. While cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) improves pain and functioning in individuals with chronic pain, many rural and underserved communities lack resources for such programs. The investigators tested the hypothesis that a CBT-based program delivered by community health workers (CHW) can improve quality of life in individuals with diabetes and chronic pain.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a growing chronic disease, affecting 20% of the population of Alabama. However, type 2 DM (90-95% of all DM) rarely occurs in isolation; 25% of all Americans report chronic pain, rising to 58-70% of community-dwellers over age 65. The National Center for Health Statistics reported in 2006 that chronic pain affected 76.2 million Americans, more than cancer, heart disease, stroke and DM combined. Despite the high prevalence of chronic pain, evidence suggests that under treatment is common. In one study, 68% of primary care physicians estimated that chronic pain was inadequately managed in their patients, and 60% thought improving physician education could help. Indeed, 40% of people with moderate to severe pain report not getting adequate relief. Chronic pain is a significant barrier to successful DM self-care; patients with chronic pain have lower medication adherence and are less likely to exercise. Fully 60-80% of DM patients report chronic pain, and in our ENCOURAGE pilot study (Safford, PI), all but one participant did so. About 20-25% of pain may stem from neuropathy, but at least 1/3 stems from OA (osteoarthritis), and coexistence of multiple causes is common. Over half of patients >65 and 60% of women of any age report OA, demonstrating the very high prevalence of OA in this demographic group. Pain management dominated 20% of primary care visits for diabetic patients in one study, and decreased the likelihood of DM risk factor management. Not surprisingly, depressive symptoms are common in individuals with OA and chronic pain, and are also associated with non adherence to DM self-care behavior. Pain is therefore a barrier to not only quality of life, but to successful DM self-care. While cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) improves pain and functioning in individuals with chronic pain, many rural and underserved communities lack resources for such programs. The investigators tested the hypothesis that a CBT-based program delivered by community health workers (CHW) can improve quality of life in individuals with diabetes and chronic pain.

Participants in this arm worked with a Community Health Worker (CHW) who provided a general health program that consisted of didactic information of unrelated general health information. Participants received the same number of contacts with their CHW as the intervention arm. Participants and CHW interacted by telephone 8 times over 3 months.

Participants in this arm worked with a Community Health Worker (CHW) who provided the Living Healthy Program. The Living Healthy Program was a cognitive-behavioral therapy based lifestyle modification program. Participants and CHW interacted by telephone 8 times over 3 months.

This intervention tested the effects of a community health worker delivered lifestyle modification program based on cognitive behavioral therapy on diabetes and pain outcomes in individuals with diabetes and chronic pain.

Participants in this arm worked with a Community Health Worker (CHW) who provided a general health program that consisted of didactic information of unrelated general health information. Participants received the same number of contacts with their CHW as the intervention arm. Participants and CHW interacted by telephone 8 times over 3 months.

self report using the following measures: McGill Pain Questionnaire, A measure of intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain (ICOAP),

participant self-report of usual daily activity (usually sit during the day, stand or walk but don't carry or lift things often, usually lift or carry light loads, or do heavy work or carry heavy loads)

participant self report of exercising when experiencing pain assessed by if the participant had no days unable to walk for exercise because of pain, unable to walk because of pain but did other exercises, or unable to walk because of pain but did not other forms of exercise.

participant self report of days in the past 7 days of having a second serving at a meal in the past 7 days

participant self report of days in the past 7 days of eating unhealthy foods because of experiencing pain

change in the number of days of eating unhealthy foods because of pain in the past 7 days at 3 months

Inclusion Criteria: 19 or older in age diagnosed with diabetes under the care of a doctor experienced chronic pain in the past month Exclusion Criteria: not community dwelling less than 19 years old pregnant end-stage medical conditions with limited life expectancy no access to telephone does not speak english,

Andreae SJ, Andreae LJ, Richman JS, Cherrington AL, Safford MM. Peer-delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-based Intervention Reduced Depression and Stress in Community Dwelling Adults With Diabetes and Chronic Pain: A Cluster Randomized Trial. Ann Behav Med. 2021 Oct 4;55(10):970-980. doi: 10.1093/abm/kaab034.

Andreae SJ, Andreae LJ, Richman JS, Cherrington AL, Safford MM. Peer-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Training to Improve Functioning in Patients With Diabetes: A Cluster-Randomized Trial. Ann Fam Med. 2020 Jan;18(1):15-23. doi: 10.1370/afm.2469.