e study identified in the literature can be categorized as Class I. Thomas (1999) undertook a study to evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral group therapy intervention for the management of SCD pain; the research consisted of a longitudinal, multi-center, randomized controlled trial. Participants included a total of 97 patients with SCD recruited from 7 London hospitals; participants were randomly allocated to one of three treatment conditions. These were a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) pain management group, an Attention Placebo group, and a no intervention group. Findings of the project reported by Thomas (1999) included significant post-intervention treatment group differences in favor of the CBT intervention. However, research also revealed that 12 months following the intention, the potency of the CBT treatment had waned.
The largest group of studies reviewed herein were categorized as Class II studies, either strong retrospective or nonrandomized prospective studies. For example, Maxwell, Streetly, and Bevan (1999) investigated the influence of sociocultural factors on the management of pain from SCD by comparing the experiences of those who manage pain at home with those more frequently admitted to hospitals for pain management. The researchers used a qualitative analysis of semi-structured individual interviews and focus group discussions from 57 participants allocated to focus groups according to ethnic origin, sex, and the number of times they were admitted to hospitals for the management of painful crises. Maxwell, et al (1999) reported that the organization and delivery of management for SCD pain discourages self-reliance and encourages hospital dependence.
A study by Chakravorty, Newell, Ramchandi, Qureshi, Ibrahim, Datta, and Telfer (2004) examined the use of pain diaries in SCD to assist children in learning to manage SCD pain autonomously. Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of SCD...