The medical director of the Migraine and Headache Clinic in Königstein, Dr. Charly Gaul, is an expert in telemedical support in this field. In an interview, he explains the benefits of combined telemedical treatment of chronic pain patients, which must take equal account of those affected‘ physiological and psychological aspects.
Six million people in Germany are affected by severe and chronic pain. They benefit from so-called patient coaching and accompanying apps, provided that those affected receive an individual, targeted therapy after a detailed medical history has been taken by the attending physician, taking into account their life circumstances.
The health insurance company IKK classic and Thieme TeleCare have developed a program in cooperation with Dr. Gaul that accompanies pain patients not only in the current pain situation but also in the long term because the suffering of patients is high because doctors often have too little time, do not take patients seriously or show too little empathy.
However, many factors are decisive for the actual therapeutic success of the program, with the involvement of a health coach and the Thieme Coach app. These include intensive and close monitoring and a good doctor-patient relationship so that problems can also be discussed with the trusted physician. In addition, however, the coaching and the app relieve the burden on the doctor, the patient, and even the health insurers‘ budget, Gaul points out.
It is also important for the success of the treatment that the patient is willing to participate in therapeutic measures actively. In addition to adapting or changing their lifestyle, this also includes learning relaxation techniques, exercising, changing their diet, and adhering to the medication plan (adherence to therapy).
The app, which provides information and tips and, among other things, documents the course of pain, trains the self-efficacy of migraine and headache patients. The first point of contact is and remains the attending physician; the health coach provides support above all with psychological aspects, which should not be underestimated in the case of the symptoms, explains Gaul in conversation.
The physician is not to be replaced by this program. However, the telemedical offers and the personal treatment by the doctor should complement each other, because anamnesis, acute therapy with appropriate pain medication and targeted prophylactic measures play an essential role in the successful treatment process of the pain patient.
Source: www.kma-online.de