“Transforming Pain”: Evaluation of a Multicomponent Workshop for the Treatment of Chronic Pain—A Quasi-Experimental Design with Control Group

Background/Objectives: Between 20 and 30% of the global population experiences Chronic Pain (CP). A comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach incorporating non-pharmacological interventions and active patient participation is recommended. This study evaluated the short- and medium-term effectiveness of a multicomponent workshop compared with a control group. Methods: A detailed description of the workshop and a single-group before–after evaluation in 197 patients were recently published. The present study used a quasi-experimental before–after design with a three-month follow-up, comparing an intervention group (n = 64) with a contemporaneous control group that continued with usual care (n = 64). Validated scales were used to measure pain, well-being, quality of life (QoL), self-esteem, resilience, anxiety, and depression. Two ad hoc surveys assessed satisfaction and perceived impact on pain, medication use, habits, and mood. Results: A total of 128 patients participated (64 per group). The intervention group showed statistically significant improvements in all indicators at both short-term (end of workshop) and medium-term (three months) follow-up. Pain decreased by −1.3 (−3.0–0) [3 months: −1.0 (−3.0–−1.0)], anxiety by −3.0 (−5.0–−1.0) [3 months: −3.0 (−5.0–1.0)], and depression by −4.0 (−7.0–−2.0) [3 months: −3.0 (−6.0–0)]. Well-being increased by 3.0 (1.0–4.0) [3 months: 1.0 (0–4.0)]; QoL by 0.213 (0.072–0.388) [3 months: 0.185 (0.013–0.337)]; perceived health by 13.5 (0–30.0) [3 months: 10.0 (0–30.0)]; self-esteem by 4.5 (1.0–7.3) [3 months: 3.0 (−1.0–6.0)], and resilience by 1.0 (−1.0–5.0) [3 months: 1.0 (0.0–5.0)]. In the control group, resilience worsened (−1.0 [−5.0–1.0], p = 0.002) and depression increased (1.0 [−1.0–3.0], p = 0.037). Pain decreased in 47 participants (74.6%) at the end of the workshop [3 months: 34 (65.4%)]. Of 55 who used medication, 48 (81.4%) reduced their intake [3 months: 34; 68.0%]. Healthy habits improved in 58 (92.1%) [3 months: 40; 78.4%]. Mood improved: 26 (41.3%) described themselves as “cheerful” and 24 (38.1%) as “neutral” [3 months: 23; 44.2% and 14; 26.9%]. Overall satisfaction: 9.7 (scale 0–10). Conclusions: The workshop enabled patients to mitigate pain, actively participate in self-care, and improve quality of life, self-esteem, and emotional well-being. These effects persisted three months post-intervention.