Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40969591›Full record

ArticlePain reports2025

The effectiveness of telemedicine in chronic pain management compared with in-person visits: a 23-month database-audit.

Rattaphol Seangrung, Yanin Kooncharoensuk, Nuj Tontisirin, Koravee Pasutharnchat, Borwornsom Leerapan, Suwimon Limpoon, Junjira Thumrin, Witthawin Saelee, Steven P Cohen

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Pain reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Rattaphol SeangrungDepartment of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6805-7295
Yanin KooncharoensukDepartment of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0608-4799
Nuj TontisirinDepartment of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5938-8893
Koravee PasutharnchatDepartment of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8578-9247
Borwornsom LeerapanChakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Samut Prakan, Thailand.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9381-1045
Suwimon LimpoonDepartment of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5456-3848
Junjira ThumrinDepartment of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1558-7711
Witthawin SaeleeDepartment of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5594-0961
Steven P CohenDepartments of Anesthesiology, Neurology, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Psychiatry and Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5928-2127

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated telemedicine adoption, yet its effectiveness in chronic pain management remains uncertain. This study compared telemedicine and in-person outcomes and identified factors influencing success at a Southeast Asian teaching hospital. Methods: A retrospective review analyzed telemedicine and in-person outpatient department (OPD) visits from January 2022 to November 2023. Successful outcomes were defined by improvement on the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I ≤ 3/7) scale, Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) reductions ≥ 2/10, or transitions from moderate/severe (>3/10) to mild pain (≤3/10). Generalized estimating equations and logistic regression identified factors associated with successful outcomes. Results: A total of 565 patients (1746 visits) were included: 282 patients (728 visits) in the telemedicine group (T-group) and 283 patients (1018 visits) in the OPD-group. The T-group was older (63 ± 13 vs 59 ± 13 years; Discussion: Telemedicine provided comparable outcomes with in-person services for both patients with cancer and noncancer patients, although the baseline imbalances that resulted from the observational study design preclude definitive conclusions regarding comparative effectiveness. Identifying predictors of success may guide clinicians in selecting appropriate care modalities. Randomized trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Indexed as

Cancer painChronic pain managementNoncancer painPredictive factorsTelemedicine

Identifiers

PMID40969591
PMCPMC12443155

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.