Table 7.
Description of the Bridgepoint Pain Management Group program by session number.
| Session number | Session agenda | Homework |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction Set individual program goals Questionnaires Relaxation: theory & practice Qi Gong |
(i) Program goals (ii) Relaxation exercise daily |
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| 2 | Review individual program goals Right & left brain function Complete questionnaires Pain diary Hydrotherapy or gym |
(i) Relaxation exercise daily (ii) 3 min breathing exercise (iii) Pain diary |
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| 3 | Review goals & pain diaries Definitions of pain Physiology of pain Pain theories Exercise: assess negative thoughts Qi Gong |
(i) Assess negative thoughts |
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| 4 | Review use of relaxation & breathing Introduction to collage Dynamic imagery Relaxation: practice Hydrotherapy or gym |
(i) Relaxation exercise daily (ii) Imagery exercise 4x a day |
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| 5 | Review coping exercise Video: accepting the pain, discussion Discovering the “silver lining” Intro to cognitive behavioural approach Negative self-talk Flare-up plan Qi Gong |
(i) Positive experiences |
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| 6 | Imagery as a pain management technique Relaxation: practice Hydrotherapy or gym |
(i) Relaxation tapes daily (ii) Draw pain picture |
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| 7 | Review positive experiences Demonstration of cognitive model Practical application of the model (group work on self-talk) Qi Gong |
(i) Self-talk exercise |
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| 8 | Development of individual pain imagery Relaxation: practice Hydrotherapy or gym |
(i) Relaxation exercise daily (ii) Practice pain imagery |
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| 9 | Stress and its relationship with pain Group work: self-talk exercises Qi Gong |
(i) Self-talk exercise |
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| 10 | Sexuality & pain: guest speaker: sex therapist Further work on pain imagery Relaxation: practice Hydrotherapy or gym |
(i) Relaxation exercise daily (ii) Practice pain imagery (iii) Review program goals |
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| 11 | Review program goals Role of medications in chronic pain Stress video Group work: self-talk exercises Qi Gong |
(i) Reducing stress (ii) Prepare for collage to be completed in Session 12 |
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| 12 | Collage exercise: group reporting Medications (cont'd) Further work on pain imagery Relaxation: practice Hydrotherapy or gym |
(i) Relaxation exercise daily (ii) Practice pain imagery |
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| 13 | Guest speaker: former group member Strategies for improved sleep quality Review collage exercise Qi Gong |
(i) Sleep strategies (ii) Self-talk exercise (iii) Reducing stress |
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| 14 | Energy conservation (OT, Sandy Duncan) Further work on pain imagery Relaxation: practice Hydrotherapy or gym |
(i) Relaxation & imagery (ii) Anger styles |
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| 15 | Therapeutic benefits of humour (video) Anger management Review sleep strategies Discussion: self-talk/stressful situations Qi Gong |
(i) Humour exercise (ii) Anger exercise |
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| 16 | Review exercise: anger episode analysis Review humour exercise Planning for family session1 Relaxation: practice Hydrotherapy or gym |
(i) Continue use of humour (ii) Relaxation & imagery |
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| 17 | Family session1
Qi Gong |
(i) Review/complete cognitive exercises |
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| 18 | Review of family session Nutrition and pain (nursing) Introduction to mindfulness meditation Hydrotherapy or gym |
(i) Relaxation: practice |
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| 19 | Discussion of community resources ACPA video “getting involved” Final review cognitive strategies Discussion of other related pain topics Qi Gong |
(i) Review initial goals (ii) Prepare future goals |
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| 20 | Review individual goals/set future goals Program evaluation Graduation: congratulations! Book follow-up session Hydrotherapy or gym |
(i) Apply strategies learned in 10-week program |
Note. Group discussion sessions are 2 hours in length, followed by group exercise for 30–60 minutes.
1During the program, one session is arranged for family members and friends of participants to attend in order to learn about chronic pain and how to support their loved ones. This is typically held on Session 17, but it could be moved to a different session if that would allow more people to attend.