Reframe the Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Parent-Led Memory-Reframing Intervention

Maria Pavlova; Tatiana Lund; Cara Nania; Madison Kennedy; Susan Graham; Melanie Noel

doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2021.08.002

Reframe the Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Parent-Led Memory-Reframing Intervention

J Pain. 2022 Feb;23(2):263-275. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2021.08.002. Epub 2021 Aug 21.

Authors

Maria Pavlova¹, Tatiana Lund¹, Cara Nania¹, Madison Kennedy¹, Susan Graham², Melanie Noel³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
² Owerko Centre and Department of Psychology, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
³ Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Owerko Centre, Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: melanie.noel@ucalgary.ca.

PMID: 34425247
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2021.08.002

Abstract

Negatively-biased pain memories (ie, recalling more pain as compared to earlier reports) are a robust predictor of future pain experiences. This randomized controlled trial examined the efficacy of a memory-reframing intervention to reframe children's pain memories. Sixty-five children (54% girls, M_age=5.35 years) underwent a tonsillectomy and reported their levels of post-surgical pain intensity and pain-related fear. 2 weeks post-surgery, children and 1 of their parents were randomized to the memory-reframing intervention or control group. Following control/intervention instructions, parents and children reminisced about the past surgery as they normally would (control) or using the memory-reframing strategies (intervention). Children recalled their post-surgical pain intensity and pain-related fear one week later. Parents reported the intervention's acceptability. Recruitment statistics were used to assess feasibility. Controlling for initial pain intensity ratings and using the Faces Pain Scale Revised, children in the intervention group reported more accurate/positively-biased memories for day 1 post-surgery pain intensity (M = 2.60/10; 95% CI, 1.62 to 3.68), compared to children in the control group (M = 4.11/10; 95% CI, 3.12 to 5.03), η_p² = .07, p = .040. The intervention was acceptable and feasible. Optimal parent-child reminiscing about a past pain experience resulted in children remembering their pain more accurately/positively. Clinicaltrials.gov:NCT03538730. PERSPECTIVE: This article presents results of the first randomized controlled trial examining the efficacy of parent-led memory-reframing intervention to change children's memories for pain. Children of parents who were taught and engaged in optimal reminiscing about a past surgery experience remembered their pain intensity more accurately/positively.

Keywords: Parent-child reminiscing; memory for pain; memory-reframing intervention; pediatric pain; post-surgical pain.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Male
Memory, Episodic*
Mental Recall / physiology*
Outcome Assessment, Health Care
Pain, Postoperative / etiology
Pain, Postoperative / rehabilitation*
Parents*
Psychosocial Intervention*
Tonsillectomy / adverse effects

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03538730