Translating an Intervention to Address Chronic Pain among Home Care Workers: The COMPASS-NP Pilot.

OBJECTIVE

To pilot test the COMmunity of Practice And Safety Support for Navigating Pain (COMPASS-NP) intervention for home care workers experiencing chronic pain.

METHODS

Home care workers with chronic pain participated (n = 19; 2 groups) in a 10-week online group program focused on workplace safety and pain self-management. Primary outcomes were changes in pain interference with work and life. Other outcomes related to ergonomics, pain levels, opioid misuse risk, mental health, sleep, and physical activity.

RESULTS

The intervention produced a large reduction in pain interference with life ( d = -0.85) and a moderate reduction in pain interference with work time demands ( d = -0.61). Secondary outcomes showed favorable effect sizes, including a substantial increase in the use of ergonomic tools and techniques ( d = 1.47).

CONCLUSION

Findings were strongly encouraging. The effectiveness of COMPASS-NP will be evaluated in a future randomized controlled trial.