Readiness for Change Predicts Outcomes of Functional Rehabilitation Following Motor Vehicle Accident

Introduction Previous research has found pre-treatment motivational readiness to engage in pain self-management to be associated with completion of a rehabilitation program. This preliminary study examined this relationship, as well as the ability of pre-treatment readiness to change to predict clinical decisions of post-treatment functional work capacity. Methods The sample consisted of 106 individuals involved in a tertiary functional rehabilitation program for motor vehicle accident (MVA) survivors. The Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI) and Pain Stages of Change Questionnaire (PSOCQ) were completed prior to treatment. Results Hierarchical logistic regression analyses revealed that PSOCQ profile scores (P = 0.008), including higher individual PSOCQ contemplation (OR = 5.30; P = 0.017) and action (OR = 5.16; P = 0.049) scores, significantly increased the likelihood of completing the functional rehabilitation program. Clinical decisions about functional work capacity were predicted by MPI profile scores (P = 0.001), and this model was significantly improved by the addition of PSOCQ scores (P = 0.037). Lower MPI interference (OR = 5.41; P = 0.002), and higher MPI affective distress (OR = 2.81; P = 0.010), MPI support (OR = 1.72; P = 0.027), and PSOCQ action (OR = 5.35; P = 0.038) scores were significant predictors of clinicians’ decisions regarding functional work capacity in the final model that identified 88% of those judged capable of returning to work and 63% of those who were judged not capable of returning to work. Conclusions This preliminary study suggests that readiness to self-manage pain is an important predictor of both completion of functional rehabilitation program and clinicians’ decisions regarding functional work capacity after an MVA. The latter outcome appears to be more complex, influenced both by motivational readiness to engage in pain self-management and cognitive-behavioral adaptation to pain.