A technology-enabled collaborative learning model (Project ECHO) to upskill primary care providers in best practice pain care

Simone De Morgan; Pippy Walker; Fiona M. Blyth; Anne Daly; Anne L. J. Burke; Michael K. Nicholas

doi:10.1071/PY24035

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Next Contents Vol 30(6)

A technology-enabled collaborative learning model (Project ECHO) to upskill primary care providers in best practice pain care

Simone De Morgan

^A ^* , Pippy Walker

^A , Fiona M. Blyth ^B , Anne Daly ^C ^D , Anne L. J. Burke ^E ^F ^G and Michael K. Nicholas ^H

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Economics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Charles Perkins Centre D17, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.

^B School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Edward Ford Building A27, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.

^C The Transport Accident Commission, Geelong, Vic, Australia.

^D WorkSafe Victoria, Geelong, Vic, Australia.

^E Chronic Pain Statewide Clinical Network, Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

^F Psychology Department, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

^G School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

^H Pain Management Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Ground Floor, Douglas Building, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia.

^* Correspondence to: simone.demorgan@sydney.edu.au

Australian Journal of Primary Health 30, PY24035 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY24035

Submitted: 21 March 2024 Accepted: 25 November 2024 Published: 19 December 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of La Trobe University. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Background

The South Australian (SA) Chronic Pain Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Network was established to upskill primary care providers in best practice pain care aligned to a patient-centred, biopsychosocial approach using didactic and case-based virtual mentoring sessions. The aims of this study were to assess: (a) participation, satisfaction (relevance, satisfaction with format and content, perceptions of the mentorship environment), learning (perceived knowledge gain, change in attitudes), competence (self-confidence) and performance (intention to change practice, perceived practice change) of the ECHO Network clinician participants; and (b) self-perceived barriers at the clinical, service and system level to applying the learnings.

Methods

A mixed methods, participatory evaluation approach was undertaken. Data sources included analysis of program records (learning needs assessment, enrolment survey data, program participation data and online surveys of healthcare professionals including a satisfaction survey after each ECHO session (n = 106 across the ECHO series of 10 sessions; average response rate = 46%), a case presenters survey (n = 7, response rate = 78%) and an outcome survey after all 10 ECHO sessions (n = 11, response rate = 25%).

Results

Forty-four healthcare professionals participated in the ECHO Network from a range of career stages and professional disciplines (half were general practitioners). One-third of participants practised in regional SA. Participants reported that the ECHO sessions met their learning needs (average = 99% across the series), were relevant to practice (average = 99% across the series), enabled them to learn about the multidisciplinary and biopsychosocial approach to pain care (average = 97% across the series) and provided positive mentorship (average = 96% across the series). Key learnings for participants were the importance of validating the patient experience and incorporating psychological and social approaches into pain care. More than one-third of participants (average = 42% across the series) identified barriers to applying the learnings such as limited time during a consultation and difficulty in forming a multidisciplinary team.

Conclusions

The ECHO Network model was found to be an acceptable and effective interdisciplinary education model for upskilling primary care providers in best practice pain care aligned to a patient-centred, biopsychosocial approach to pain managment. However, participants perceived barriers to translating this knowledge into practice at the clinical, service and system levels.

Keywords: biopsychosocial, chronic pain, education, pain management, patient-centred, primary care, Project ECHO, workforce.

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