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Dudley M, Olson RE, Mescouto K, Setchell J. The good pain patient: a critical evaluation of patients' self-presentations in specialist pain clinics. HEALTH SOCIOLOGY REVIEW : THE JOURNAL OF THE HEALTH SECTION OF THE AUSTRALIAN SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 2024:1-19. [PMID: 38783523 DOI: 10.1080/14461242.2024.2350501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Established research supports collaborative patient-clinician communication as a means of improving pain management and decreasing opioid use by patients with chronic pain. However, much of this scholarship emphasises clinicians' capacities to shape and improve communication; limited research investigates patients' roles in this process. Drawing on 40 ethnographic observations of patient-clinician interactions, clinical spaces and case conferences within one specialist pain clinic in Brisbane, Australia, this paper investigates how and why patients present themselves in particular ways within consultations. Our theoretical lens combines concepts from Goffman on patienthood and stigma with Foucauldian theories of pastoral and disciplinary power. Findings suggest that elements of the clinical environment - namely posters - usher patients towards presenting in what we conceptualise as the 'good pain patient' role. In this role, patients demonstrate that they are moral, responsible, and contributing members of society. Yet, such a role is problematic to opening communication, with the role constraining what is socially acceptable for patients with chronic pain to say, do, or feel. In recognising how clinical contexts facilitate problematic good pain patient presentations, this paper directs attention to the spatial and relational nature of implicit clinical expectations and constrained good pain patient presentations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Dudley
- School of Social Science, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Rebecca E Olson
- School of Social Science, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Karime Mescouto
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Jenny Setchell
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
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Thompson CM, Pulido MD, Gangidi S, Arnold P. How Chronic Pain Patients' and Physicians' Communication Influences Patients' Uncertainty: A Pre- and Post-Consultation Study. JOURNAL OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2024; 29:357-370. [PMID: 38742771 DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2024.2352556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Chronic pain is a health problem that is difficult to diagnose, treat, and manage, partly owing to uncertainty surrounding ambiguous causes, few treatment options, and frequent misunderstandings in clinical encounters. Pairing uncertainty management theory with medical communication competence, we predicted that both physicians and patients are influential to patients' uncertainty appraisals and uncertainty management. We collected pre- and post-consultation data from 200 patients with chronic neck and spine/back pain and their physicians. Patients' reports of their physician's communication were a consistent predictor of their post-consultation uncertainty outcomes. Physicians' reports of both their own and patients' communication competence were associated with patients' positive uncertainty appraisals. Physicians' reports of patients' communication competence were also associated with reductions in patients' uncertainty. Findings illustrate how both interactants' perceptions of communication competence-how they view their own (for physicians) and the other's-are associated with patients' post-consultation outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charee M Thompson
- Department of Communication, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Manuel D Pulido
- Department of Communication Studies, California State University, Long Beach, California, USA
| | - Suma Gangidi
- Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Paul Arnold
- Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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Johnson NL, Steffensmeier KS, Garvin LA, Adamowicz JL, Obrecht AA, Rothmiller SJ, Sibenaller Z, Stout L, Driscoll MA, Hadlandsmyth K. "It Made Me Not Want to See him…": The Role of Patient-Provider Communication in Influencing Rural-Dwelling Women Veterans' Motivation to Seek Health Care for Managing Chronic Pain. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2024; 39:1161-1174. [PMID: 37161286 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2207280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Despite being high health care utilizers, many women Veterans perceive their pain condition to be poorly understood by their providers, which can be a strong demotivator for seeking care. We set out to understand the priorities rural-dwelling women Veterans have for using health care for their chronic pain, and interviewed participants about their experiences with (and priorities for seeking) health care for their chronic pain. Self-Determination Theory identifies three sources of motivation (autonomy, competence, relatedness), all of which were represented through two themes that reflect rural women Veterans' rationale for decision-making to obtain health care for chronic pain: role of trust and competing priorities. Women described their priorities for chronic pain management in terms of their competing priorities for work, education, and supporting their family, but most expressed a desire to function in their daily life and relationships. Second, women discussed the role of trust in their provider as a source of motivation, and the role of patient-provider communication skills and gender played in establishing trust. Rural women Veterans often discussed core values that stemmed from facets of their identity (e.g. gender, military training, ethnicity) that also influenced their decision-making. Our findings provide insight for how providers may use Motivational Interviewing and discuss chronic pain treatment options so that rural-dwelling women Veterans feel autonomous, competent, and understood in their decision-making about their chronic pain. We also discuss importance of acknowledging the effects of disenfranchising talk and perpetuating gendered stereotypes related to chronic pain and theoretical implications of this work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole L Johnson
- Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System
| | - Kenda Stewart Steffensmeier
- Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System
| | | | - Jenna L Adamowicz
- Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa
| | - Ashlie A Obrecht
- Department of Primary Care, Veteran Affairs Central Iowa Health Care System
| | - Shamira J Rothmiller
- Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System
| | - Zita Sibenaller
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa
| | - Lori Stout
- Department of Anesthesia, University of Iowa
| | - Mary A Driscoll
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multimorbidities, and Education Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System
| | - Katherine Hadlandsmyth
- Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Department of Anesthesia, University of Iowa
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Matthias MS, Bolla AL, Bair SM, Adams J, Eliacin J, Burgess DJ, Hirsh AT. Communication and Activation in Pain to Enhance Relationships and Treat Pain with Equity (COOPERATE): a Qualitative Analysis of a Tailored Coaching Program for Black Patients with Chronic Pain. J Gen Intern Med 2024; 39:222-228. [PMID: 37726645 PMCID: PMC10853119 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-023-08410-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Racial inequities in pain treatment are well-documented and persist despite national priorities focused on health equity. The COOPERATE (Communication and Activation in Pain to Enhance Relationships and Treat Pain with Equity) intervention was a patient-centered, tailored intervention aimed at improving health equity by targeting patient activation-the knowledge and confidence to manage one's health. COOPERATE led to significant and sustained increases in patient activation, significant short-term increases in communication self-efficacy (confidence to communicate with clinicians), and more intervention participants experienced clinically significant (≥ 30%) reductions in pain at 3 months than control group participants. OBJECTIVE To understand how participants experienced the intervention, including their perspectives on its effects on their health and healthcare experiences. DESIGN Semi-structured qualitative interviews. PARTICIPANTS Black veterans with chronic pain who participated in the COOPERATE intervention. KEY RESULTS Participants described acquiring new tools and cultivating skills to use in their clinic visits, including preparing for their visit (writing an agenda, listing questions); asking focused, effective questions; and expressing concerns and communicating goals, values, and preferences. Participants indicated that by putting these tools to use, they felt more confident and able to take ownership of their own pain care; for some, this led to better pain management and improved pain. Participants expressed mixed views of disparities in pain care, with some believing race and racism did not play a role in their care, while others valued being part of an intervention that helped equip them with tools to exercise autonomy over their healthcare. CONCLUSIONS Black patients with chronic pain described gaining greater confidence to self-manage and communicate with their clinicians after participating in the COOPERATE intervention. With its focus on empowering individuals, the COOPERATE intervention represents a promising approach to help advance equity in pain care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne S Matthias
- VA HSR&D Center for Health Information and Communication, Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, USA.
- Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA.
| | - Arya L Bolla
- Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, USA
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
| | | | - Jasma Adams
- VA HSR&D Center for Health Information and Communication, Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, USA
| | - Johanne Eliacin
- VA HSR&D Center for Health Information and Communication, Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, USA
- Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, USA
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, USA
| | - Diana J Burgess
- Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Adam T Hirsh
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, USA
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Green CR. Improving the art and science of communication in people living with chronic pain. Pain 2024; 165:250-251. [PMID: 37733488 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Renee Green
- The City University of New York School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- City College of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Community Health and Social Medicine, City College of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership, City College of New York, New York, NY, United States
- Anesthesiology and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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Matthias MS, Daggy JK, Perkins AJ, Adams J, Bair MJ, Burgess DJ, Eliacin J, Flores P, Myers LJ, Menen T, Procento P, Rand KL, Salyers MP, Shanahan ML, Hirsh AT. Communication and activation in pain to enhance relationships and treat pain with equity (COOPERATE): a randomized clinical trial. Pain 2024; 165:365-375. [PMID: 37733487 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Racialized disparities in chronic pain care are well-documented and persist despite national priorities focused on health equity. Similar disparities have been observed in patient activation (ie, having the knowledge, confidence, and skills to manage one's health). As such, interventions targeting patient activation represent a novel approach to addressing and reducing disparities in pain care. Communication and Activation in Pain to Enhance Relationships and Treat Pain with Equity is a randomized controlled trial of a 6-session telephone-delivered intervention to increase patient activation for Black patients with chronic pain. Two hundred fifty Black patients from a Midwestern Veterans Affairs medical center were randomized to the intervention or attention control. The primary outcome was patient activation; secondary outcomes included communication self-efficacy, pain, and psychological functioning. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 3 (primary endpoint), 6, and 9 months (sustained effects). Analyses used an intent-to-treat approach. Compared with baseline, patient activation increased 4.6 points at 3 months (versus +0.13 in control group, 95% CI: 0.48, 7.34; P = 0.03). These improvements in the intervention group were sustained, with +7 from baseline at 6 months and +5.77 at 9 months, and remained statistically significant from the control group. Communication self-efficacy increased significantly relative to the control group from baseline to 3 months. Pain intensity and interference improved at 3 months, but differences were not significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons. Most other secondary outcomes improved, but group differences were not statistically significant after controlling for multiple comparisons. Results suggest that increasing patient activation is a potentially fruitful path toward improving pain management and achieving health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne S Matthias
- VA HSR&D Center for Health Information and Communication, Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Joanne K Daggy
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Anthony J Perkins
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Jasma Adams
- VA HSR&D Center for Health Information and Communication, Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Matthew J Bair
- VA HSR&D Center for Health Information and Communication, Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Diana J Burgess
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Johanne Eliacin
- VA HSR&D Center for Health Information and Communication, Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Perla Flores
- VA HSR&D Center for Health Information and Communication, Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Laura J Myers
- VA HSR&D Center for Health Information and Communication, Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Tetla Menen
- VA HSR&D Center for Health Information and Communication, Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Philip Procento
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Kevin L Rand
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Michelle P Salyers
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Mackenzie L Shanahan
- VA HSR&D Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Adam T Hirsh
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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Gerwing J, White AEC, Henry SG. Communicative Practices Clinicians Use to Correct Patient Misconceptions in Primary Care Visits. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2023:1-16. [PMID: 38111218 PMCID: PMC11182885 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2283658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
To investigate how clinicians correct patient misconceptions, we analyzed 23 video recordings of primary care visits. Analysis focused on operationalizing, identifying, and characterizing clinician corrections, integrating two inductive approaches: microanalysis of clinical interaction and conversation analysis. According to our definition, patient misconception-clinician correction episodes met three essential criteria: (1) the clinician refuted something the patient had said, (2) which the patient had presented without uncertainty, and (3) which contained a proposition that was factually incorrect. We identified 59 such episodes; the patient misconceptions most commonly related to medication issues; fewer than half had foreseeable implications for patients' future actions. We identified seven clinician correction practices: Three direct practices (displaying surprise, marking disagreement, contradicting the patient) and four indirect practices (presenting the correct proposition, providing explanations, invoking an outside authority, demonstrating with evidence). We found an almost equal distribution of these direct and indirect practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Gerwing
- Health Services Research Unit, Akershus University Hospital, Norway
| | - Anne E. C. White
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, USA
| | - Stephen G. Henry
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
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Mansutti I, Tomé-Pires C, Chiappinotto S, Palese A. Facilitating pain assessment and communication in people with deafness: a systematic review. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1594. [PMID: 37608263 PMCID: PMC10464447 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16535-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pain is a common reason for seeking out healthcare professionals and support services. However, certain populations, such as people with deafness, may encounter difficulties in effectively communicating their pain; on the other side, health care professionals may also encounter challenges to assess pain in this specific population. AIMS To describe (a) the state of the research in the field of pain assessment in individuals with deafness; (b) instruments validated; and (b) strategies facilitating the pain communication or assessment in this population. METHODS A systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines were performed, searching Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, Embase and PsycInfo databases, from their initiation to July 2023. Primary and secondary studies, involving adults with deafness and investigating pain assessment and communication difficulties, facilitators, or barriers, were eligible. The included studies were assessed in their methodological quality with the Quality Assessment for Diverse Studies tool; data extraction and the narrative synthesis was provided by two researchers. RESULTS Five studies were included. Two were validation studies, while the remaining were a case report, a case study and a qualitative study. The interRAI Community Health Assessment and the Deafblind Supplement scale have been validated among people with deafness by reporting few psychometric properties; in contrast, instruments well established in the general population (e.g. Visual Analogue Scale) have been assessed in their usability and understandability among individuals with deafness, suggesting their limitations. Some strategies have been documented as facilitating pain communication and assessment: (a) ensuring inclusiveness (the presence of family members as mediators); (b) ensuring the preparedness of healthcare professionals (e.g. in sign language); and (c) making the environment friendly to this population (e.g. removing masks). CONCLUSIONS The research regarding pain in this population is in its infancy, resulting in limited evidence. In recommending more research capable of establishing the best pain assessment instrument, some strategies emerged for assessing pain in which the minimum standards of care required to offer to this vulnerable population should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Mansutti
- Bachelor of Nursing, Department of Medical Science, Udine University, Viale Ungheria 20, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Catarina Tomé-Pires
- Psychology Research Centre (CIP), Department of Psychology, Autonomous University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Stefania Chiappinotto
- Bachelor of Nursing, Department of Medical Science, Udine University, Viale Ungheria 20, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Alvisa Palese
- Bachelor of Nursing, Department of Medical Science, Udine University, Viale Ungheria 20, 33100, Udine, Italy.
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Main CJ, Ballengee LA, George SZ, Beneciuk JM, Greco CM, Simon CB. Psychologically Informed Practice: The Importance of Communication in Clinical Implementation. Phys Ther 2023; 103:pzad047. [PMID: 37145093 PMCID: PMC10390082 DOI: 10.1093/ptj/pzad047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
There has been increasing interest in the secondary prevention of chronic pain and pain-associated disability over the past 3 decades. In 2011, psychologically informed practice (PiP) was suggested as a framework for managing persistent and recurrent pain, and, since then, it has underpinned the development of stratified care linking risk identification (screening). Although PiP research trials have demonstrated clinical and economic advantage over usual care, pragmatic studies have been less successful, and qualitative studies have identified implementation difficulties in both system delivery and individual clinical management. Effort has been put into the development of screening tools, the development of training, and the assessment of outcomes; however, the nature of the consultation has remained relatively unexplored. In this Perspective, a review of the nature of clinical consultations and the clinician-patient relationship is followed by reflections on the nature of communication and the outcome of training courses. Consideration is given to the optimization of communication, including the use of standardized patient-reported measures and the role of the therapist in facilitating adaptive behavior change. Several challenges in implementing a PiP approach in day-to-day practice are then considered. Following brief consideration of the impact of recent developments in health care, the Perspective concludes with a brief introduction to the PiP Consultation Roadmap (the subject of a companion paper), the use of which is suggested as a way of structuring the consultation with the flexibility required for a patient-centered approach to guided self-management of chronic pain conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris J Main
- School of Medicine, Keele University, Keele, Newcastle, ST5 5BG, UK
| | - Lindsay A Ballengee
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Steven Z George
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jason M Beneciuk
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Brooks Rehabilitation, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Carol M Greco
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Corey B Simon
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Livingston CJ, Gray M, LaForge K, Choo EK. A cross-sectional survey exploring clinician perceptions of a novel Medicaid back pain policy. JOURNAL OF COMPLEMENTARY & INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE 2023; 20:438-446. [PMID: 36306465 PMCID: PMC11302735 DOI: 10.1515/jcim-2022-0213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Oregon Medicaid (Oregon Health Plan, or OHP) implemented an innovative policy in 2016 that increased coverage of evidence-based non-pharmacologic therapies (NPT, including physical therapy, massage, chiropractic, and acupuncture) while restricting opioids, epidural steroid injections, and surgeries. The objective of this study was to compare the perspectives of clinicians who see back pain patients and can prescribe pharmacologic therapies and/or refer to NPTs and clinicians who directly provide NPT therapies affected by the policy. METHODS A cross-sectional online survey was administered to Oregon prescribing clinicians and NPT clinicians between December 2019 and February 2020. The survey was completed by 107 prescribing clinicians and 83 NPT clinicians. RESULTS Prescribing clinicians and NPT clinicians had only moderate levels of familiarity with core elements of the policy. Prescribing clinicians had higher levels of frustration caring for OHP patients with back pain than NPT clinicians (83 vs. 34%, p<0.001) and were less confident in their ability to provide effective care (73 vs. 85%, p = .025). Eighty-six percent of prescribing clinicians and 83% of NPT clinicians thought active NPT treatments were effective; 74 and 70% thought passive NPT treatments were effective. Forty percent of prescribing clinicians and 25% of NPT clinicians (p<0.001) thought medically-light therapies were effective, while 29% of prescribing clinicians and 10% of NPT clinicians thought medically-intensive treatments were effective (p=0.001). Prescribing clinicians thought increased access to NPTs improved outcomes, while opinions were less consistent on the impact of restricting opioid prescribing. CONCLUSIONS Prescribing clinicians and NPT clinicians had varying perspectives of a Medicaid coverage policy to increase evidence-based back pain care. Understanding these perspectives is important for contextualizing policy effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine J. Livingston
- Department of Family Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, 3930 SE Division Street, Portland, Oregon, 97202, USA
| | | | | | - Esther K. Choo
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, OR, USA
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11
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Bernardes CM, Ekberg S, Birch S, Claus A, Bryant M, Meuter R, Isua J, Gray P, Kluver JP, Malacova E, Jones C, Houkamau K, Taylor M, Lin I, Pratt G. Yarning about pain: Evaluating communication training for health professionals at persistent pain services in Queensland, Australia. Br J Pain 2023; 17:306-319. [PMID: 37342393 PMCID: PMC10278454 DOI: 10.1177/20494637221149831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Providing cultural education to health professionals is essential in improving the quality of care and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. This study reports the evaluation of a novel training workshop used as an intervention to improve communication with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients of persistent pain services. Methods In this single-arm intervention study, health professionals undertook a one-day workshop, which included cultural capability and communication skills training based on a clinical yarning framework. The workshop was delivered across three adult persistent pain clinics in Queensland. At the end of the training, participants completed a retrospective pre/post evaluation questionnaire (5 points Likert scale, 1 = very low to 5 = very high), to rate their perceived importance of communication training, their knowledge, ability and confidence to communicate effectively. Participants also rated their satisfaction with the training and suggested improvements for future trainings. Results Fifty-seven health professionals were trained (N = 57/111; 51% participation rate), 51 completed an evaluation questionnaire (n = 51/57; 90% response rate). Significant improvements in the perceived importance of communication training, knowledge, ability and confidence to effectively communicate with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients were identified (p < 0.001). The greatest increase was in the perceived confidence pre-training mean of 2.96 (SE = 0.11) to the post-training mean of 4.02 (SE = 0.09). Conclusion This patient-centred communication training, delivered through a novel model that combines cultural capability and the clinical yarning framework applied to the pain management setting, was highly acceptable and significantly improved participants' perceived competence. This method is transferrable to other health system sectors seeking to train their clinical workforce with culturally sensitive communication skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Bernardes
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Stuart Ekberg
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Stephen Birch
- Centre for the Business and Economics of Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrew Claus
- Tess Cramond Pain and Research Centre, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Matthew Bryant
- North Queensland Persistent Pain Management Service, Townsville Hospital and Health Service, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Renata Meuter
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jermaine Isua
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Division, Cultural Capability Services, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Paul Gray
- Tess Cramond Pain and Research Centre, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Joseph P Kluver
- Persistent Pain Clinic, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Eva Malacova
- Statistics Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Corey Jones
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kushla Houkamau
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Marayah Taylor
- North Queensland Persistent Pain Management Service, Townsville Hospital and Health Service, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Ivan Lin
- Western Australian Centre for Rural Health (WACRH), The University of Western Australia, Geraldton, WA, Australia
| | - Gregory Pratt
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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12
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Matthias MS, Burgess DJ, Eliacin J. Healthcare Access and Delivery During the COVID-19 Pandemic for Black Veterans with Chronic Pain: a Qualitative Study. J Gen Intern Med 2023; 38:1024-1029. [PMID: 36376625 PMCID: PMC9663172 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-022-07884-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant disruptions in healthcare and rapid increases in virtual healthcare delivery. The full effects of these shifts remain unknown. Understanding effects of these disruptions is particularly relevant for patients with chronic pain, which typically requires consistent engagement in treatment to maximize benefit, and for Black patients, given documented racial disparities in pain treatment and telehealth delivery. OBJECTIVE To understand how Black patients with chronic pain experienced pandemic-related changes in healthcare delivery. DESIGN In-depth, semi-structured qualitative interviews PARTICIPANTS: Black veterans with chronic pain. KEY RESULTS Participants described decreased ability to self-manage their chronic pain, obtain nonpharmacological services such as physical therapy, see their primary care providers, and schedule surgery. Most did not believe telehealth met their needs, describing feeling inadequately assessed for their pain and noting that beyond renewing prescriptions, telehealth visits were not that useful. Some believed their communication with their providers suffered from a lack of in-person contact. Others, however, were willing to accept this tradeoff to prevent possible exposure to COVID-19, and some appreciated the convenience of being able to access healthcare from home. CONCLUSIONS Black patients with chronic pain described mostly negative effects from the shift to telecare after the pandemic's onset. Given existing disparities and likely persistence of virtual care, research on the longer-term effects of virtual pain care for Black patients is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne S Matthias
- VA HSR&D Center for Health Information and Communication, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
- Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
| | - Diana J Burgess
- Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Johanne Eliacin
- VA HSR&D Center for Health Information and Communication, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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13
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Ali SM, Lee RR, McBeth J, James B, McAlister S, Chiarotto A, Dixon WG, van der Veer SN. Exploring the Cross-cultural Acceptability of Digital Tools for Pain Self-reporting: Qualitative Study. JMIR Hum Factors 2023; 10:e42177. [PMID: 36753324 PMCID: PMC9947768 DOI: 10.2196/42177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Culture and ethnicity influence how people communicate about their pain. This makes it challenging to develop pain self-report tools that are acceptable across ethnic groups. OBJECTIVE We aimed to inform the development of cross-culturally acceptable digital pain self-report tools by better understanding the similarities and differences between ethnic groups in pain experiences and self-reporting needs. METHODS Three web-based workshops consisting of a focus group and a user requirement exercise with people who self-identified as being of Black African (n=6), South Asian (n=10), or White British (n=7) ethnicity were conducted. RESULTS Across ethnic groups, participants shared similar lived experiences and challenges in communicating their pain to health care professionals. However, there were differences in beliefs about the causes of pain, attitudes toward pain medication, and experiences of how stigma and gender norms influenced pain-reporting behavior. Despite these differences, they agreed on important aspects for pain self-report, but participants from non-White backgrounds had additional language requirements such as culturally appropriate pain terminologies to reduce self-reporting barriers. CONCLUSIONS To improve the cross-cultural acceptability and equity of digital pain self-report tools, future developments should address the differences among ethnic groups on pain perceptions and beliefs, factors influencing pain reporting behavior, and language requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Mustafa Ali
- Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Centre for Health Informatics, Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Science, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca R Lee
- Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - John McBeth
- Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Alessandro Chiarotto
- Department of General Practice, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - William G Dixon
- Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Sabine N van der Veer
- Centre for Health Informatics, Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Science, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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14
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Ashton-James CE, Anderson SR, Hirsh AT. Understanding the contribution of racially and ethnically discordant interactions to pain disparities: proximal mechanisms and potential solutions. Pain 2023; 164:223-229. [PMID: 35594518 PMCID: PMC9675882 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Claire E Ashton-James
- Sydney Medical School, Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Steven R Anderson
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Adam T Hirsh
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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15
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Erard M. Beyond Last Words: Patterns of Linguistic and Interactional Behavior in a Historical Sample of Dying Hospital Patients. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2023; 86:1089-1107. [PMID: 33722079 PMCID: PMC9810827 DOI: 10.1177/00302228211000938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Patterns of linguistic and interactional behavior by people at the very end of their lives are not well described, partly because data is difficult to obtain. This paper analyzes descriptions of 486 deaths gathered from 1900 to 1904 in the first-ever clinical study of dying by noted Canadian physician, Sir William Osler. Only 16 patients were noted speaking, and only four canonical last words were reported. The most frequent observation by medical staff was that the deaths were quiet (n = 30), though range of other behaviors were noted (e.g., moaning, delirium, seeming intention to speak). Osler's problematic study left behind data whose analysis is a small step toward empirically characterizing the linguistic and interactional details of a previously under-described phenomena as well as the importance of the social context in which they occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Erard
- Institute of Data Science,
Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands,Michael Erard, Institute of Data Science,
Maastricht University, Paul Henri Spaklaan 1, 6229 GT Maastricht, the
Netherlands.
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16
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Zarska A, Slat S, Kehne A, Macleod C, Rye H, Dehmlow C, Hilliard P, Jaffe K, Lagisetty P. Feasibility and Acceptability of the Pain Profile, a Clinical Questionnaire Aimed at Improving Pain Care. J Pain Res 2023; 16:1559-1571. [PMID: 37197391 PMCID: PMC10184891 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s402354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Despite being one of the most common medical complaints, chronic pain is difficult to manage due to ineffective communication between providers and patients and time restraints during appointments. Patient-centered questionnaires have the potential to optimize communication by assessing a patient's pain history, prior treatments, and associated comorbidities to develop an effective treatment plan. This study aimed to analyze the feasibility and acceptability of a pre-visit clinical questionnaire aimed at improving communication and pain care. Patients and Methods The "Pain Profile" questionnaire was piloted across two specialty pain clinics in a large academic medical center. Patient and provider surveys were conducted with patients who completed the Pain Profile questionnaire and providers who use it in practice. Surveys consisted of multiple-choice and open-ended questions regarding the helpfulness, usability, and implementation of the questionnaire. Descriptive analyses of patient and provider surveys were conducted. Qualitative data were analyzed using matrix framework-based coding. Results A total of 171 patients and 32 clinical providers completed the feasibility and acceptability surveys. 77% of patients (N= 131) found the Pain Profile helpful in communicating their pain experiences and 69% of providers (N= 22) found it helpful in guiding clinical decisions. The section that assessed the impact of pain was rated most helpful by patients (4/5) while the open-ended section asking patients to describe their pain history was rated least helpful by patients and providers (3.7/5 and 4.1/5, respectively). Both patients and providers provided suggestions to future iterations of the Pain Profile, including the addition of opioid risk and mental health screening tools. Conclusion The Pain Profile questionnaire was feasible and acceptable in a pilot study at a large academic site. Future testing in a large-scale, fully powered trial is needed to assess the effectiveness of the Pain Profile in optimizing communication and pain management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Zarska
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Correspondence: Aleksandra Zarska, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, 2800 Plymouth Road, Building 16, Floor 4, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA, Tel +17186109960, Email
| | - Stephanie Slat
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Adrianne Kehne
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Center for Clinical Management and Research, Ann Arbor Veterans Health Administration, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Colin Macleod
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Heather Rye
- University of Michigan Medical Group Care Management – Complex Care Management, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Cheryl Dehmlow
- Health Information Technology & Services, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Paul Hilliard
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Jaffe
- Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Pooja Lagisetty
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Center for Clinical Management and Research, Ann Arbor Veterans Health Administration, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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17
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Nogueira Carrer HC, Zanca GG, Haik MN. Clinical Assessment of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain-A Framework Proposal Based on a Narrative Review of the Literature. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 13:diagnostics13010062. [PMID: 36611355 PMCID: PMC9818962 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13010062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The assessment of chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is a challenge shared by several health professionals. Fragmented or incomplete assessment can cause deleterious consequences for the patient's function. The objective of this paper was to propose a framework for clinical assessment of CMP based on the current literature and following the conceptual model of the International Classification of Functioning and Health (ICF). We propose that the ICF rationale may help to guide the processes, acting as a moderator of the clinical assessment, since it changes the perspective used to obtain and interpret findings during anamnesis and physical examination. Additionally, updated specific knowledge about pain, including that of pain domains and mechanisms, along with effective patient-clinician communication may act as a mediator of CMP assessment. We conduct the readers through the steps of the clinical assessment of CMP using both the proposed moderator and mediators and present a clinical example of application. We suggest that the proposed framework may help clinicians to implement a CMP assessment based on the biopsychosocial model using a critical and updated rationale, potentially improving assessment outcomes, i.e., clinical diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Cristina Nogueira Carrer
- Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil
- Interdisciplinary Center for Pain Care, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Gisele Garcia Zanca
- Interdisciplinary Center for Pain Care, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil
- Department of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Marília 17525-900, Brazil
| | - Melina Nevoeiro Haik
- Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil
- Interdisciplinary Center for Pain Care, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-16-3351-8341
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18
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Bernardes CM, Houkamau K, Lin I, Taylor M, Birch S, Claus A, Bryant M, Meuter R, Isua J, Gray P, Kluver JP, Jones C, Ekberg S, Pratt G. Communication and access to healthcare: Experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people managing pain in Queensland, Australia. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH (LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 3:1041968. [PMID: 36561982 PMCID: PMC9763606 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2022.1041968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background Pain management requires a multidisciplinary approach and a collaborative relationship between patient-provider in which communication is crucial. This study examines the communication experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Hospital Liaison Officers (ATSIHLOs), to improve understanding of how pain is managed in and through patient-health professional communication. Methods This qualitative study involved a purposive sample of patients attending three persistent pain clinics and ATSIHLOs working in two hospitals in Queensland, Australia. Focus groups and in-depth interviews explored the communication experiences of patients managing pain and ATSIHLOs supporting patients with pain. This study adopted a descriptive phenomenological methodology, as described by Colaizzi (1978). Relevant statements (patient and ATSIHLOs quotes) about the phenomenon were extracted from the transcripts to formulate meanings. The formulated meanings were subsequently sorted into thematic clusters and then integrated into themes. The themes were then incorporated into a concise description of the phenomenon of communication within pain management. Findings were validated by participants. Results A total of 21 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants were involved in this study. Exploration of the communication experiences of patients and ATSIHLOs revealed overlapping themes of important barriers to and enablers of communication that affected access to care while managing pain. Acknowledging historical and cultural factors were particularly important to build trust between patients and health professionals. Some patients reported feeling stigmatized for identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, while others were reluctant to disclose their background for fear of not having the same opportunity for treatment. Differences in the expression of pain and the difficulty to use standard pain measurement scales were identified. Communication was described as more than the content delivered, it is visual and emotional expressed through body language, voice intonation, language and the speed of the conversation. Conclusion Communication can significantly affect access to pain management services. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients highlighted the burden of emotional pain caused by historical factors, negative stereotypes and the fear of discrimination. Pain management services and their health professionals need to acknowledge how these factors impact patients trust and care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Maresch Bernardes
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia,Correspondence: Christina Maresch Bernardes
| | - Kushla Houkamau
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Ivan Lin
- WesternAustralian Center for Rural Health, University of Western Australia, Geraldton, WA, Australia
| | - Marayah Taylor
- North Queensland Persistent Pain Management Service, Townsville Hospital and Health Service, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Stephen Birch
- Centre for Business and Economics of Health, Faculty of Business, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrew Claus
- Tess Cramond Pain and Research Centre, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Matthew Bryant
- North Queensland Persistent Pain Management Service, Townsville Hospital and Health Service, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Renata Meuter
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jermaine Isua
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Division, Cultural Capability Services, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Paul Gray
- Tess Cramond Pain and Research Centre, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Joseph P Kluver
- Persistent Pain Clinic, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Corey Jones
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Stuart Ekberg
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Gregory Pratt
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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19
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Stuhlreyer J, Roder C, Krug F, Zöllner C, Flor H, Klinger R. A digital application and augmented physician rounds reduce postoperative pain and opioid consumption after primary total knee replacement (TKR): a randomized clinical trial. BMC Med 2022; 20:469. [PMID: 36464680 PMCID: PMC9721029 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02638-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe postoperative pain not only is a considerable burden for patients but also leads to overprescription of opioids, resulting in considerable health concerns. The remarkable development of new technologies in the health care system provides novel treatment opportunities in this area and could exploit the additional placebo effect, provide added value for patients, and at the same time support hospital staff. We aimed to test the pain- and opioid intake-reducing effects of enhanced postoperative pain management by boosting pain medication by using a technical application and/or augmented physician rounds. METHODS In a four-arm, randomized clinical trial, 96 patients (24 patients per group) scheduled for a total knee replacement (TKR) were randomized into four groups for four postoperative days: an "application" group (APP) with information via an iPad-based application; a "doctor" group (DOC) with augmented physician rounds; a combination group (APP+DOC), which received both interventions; and a "treatment as usual" group (TAU) as a baseline with no additional intervention besides the standard care which consists of standardized medication, regular physician rounds, and physiotherapy. Postoperative pain and opioid requirements pre- and postoperatively until hospital discharge were recorded. RESULTS The difference between post- and preoperative pain was significantly different between the groups (P=.02, partial η2=.10). APP+DOC experienced greater postoperative pain relief than DOC (mean: 2.3 vs. 0.7, 95% CI: 0.08-3.09; P=.04) and TAU (mean 2.3 vs. 0.1; 95% CI: 0.69-3.71; P=.005), respectively, the difference compared to APP (mean 2.3 vs. 1.7; 95% CI -1.98-1.76) was not significant. Opioid consumption differed significantly between groups (P=.01, partial η2=.12). APP+DOC (72.9 mg) and DOC (75.4 mg) consumed less oxycodone than APP (83.3 mg) and TAU (87.9 mg; 95% CI: 2.9-22.1; P=.003). APP+DOC consumed significantly less oxycodone than DOC (d=0.2-0.4). There were no significant group differences in NSAID and Morphine sulfate consumption. Patients in APP+DOC were more satisfied with their treatment than patients in TAU (P=.03, partial η2=.09). CONCLUSIONS The combination of an innovative digital app, which implements open drug administration and augmented physician rounds that support the doctor-patient relationship can significantly improve postoperative pain management. TRIAL REGISTRATION The protocol was approved by the local ethics committee of the ethical commission of the German Psychological Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychologie; DGPs). The study was registered at DRKS.de (identifier: DRKS00009554).
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Stuhlreyer
- Department of Anesthesiology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Roder
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Schön Clinic Hamburg Eilbek, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Florian Krug
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Schön Clinic Hamburg Eilbek, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Zöllner
- Department of Anesthesiology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Herta Flor
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Regine Klinger
- Department of Anesthesiology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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20
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Therapeutic alliance impact on analgesic outcomes in a real-world clinical setting: An observational study. ACTA PHARMACEUTICA (ZAGREB, CROATIA) 2022; 72:529-545. [PMID: 36651362 DOI: 10.2478/acph-2022-0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
A good therapeutic alliance is relevant for healthcare providers exposed to patients' suffering, especially since patients and physicians may understand the painful experience differently. Our aim was to explore the impact of therapeutic alliance on analgesic outcomes in a real-world interdisciplinary pain unit (PU). A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on outpatients (n = 69) using opioids on a long-term basis for the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain, where clinical pharmacologists and pharmacists advised patients about their opioid treatment. Responses to the patient-doctor relationship questionnaire (PDRQ), sociodemographic and clinical information (pain level, quality of life and hospital use) were collected, whereas pharmacology data (analgesic prescription, adverse events, and compliance) were obtained from electronic health records. Patients were predominantly middle-aged (75 % women, 72 % retired), experiencing moderate pain (VAS 40-70 mm) on average, and under a high morphine equianalgesic dosage (95 ± 88 mg per day, mainly tapentadol or fentanyl). Patients with better PDRQ outcomes, and therefore better therapeutic alliance, showed lower pain intensity than patients with worse PDRQ outcomes (pain intensity: high scores 60 ± 47 mm and medium scores 60 ± 45 mm vs. low scores 80 ± 75 mm, p < 0.01). Along with this, pain intensity was lower when patients affirmed that, thanks to the health-care providers, they "gained new insight", "felt better", or "felt content with their doctor's treatment". What´s more, patients who affirmed "I benefit from the treatment" experienced increased pain relief (benefit 40 ± 30 vs. non-benefit 19 ± 26 mm, p = 0.010) and improved quality of life (benefit 33 ± 25 vs. non-benefit 18 ± 16 mm, p = 0.031). However, there was a percentage of patients who did not fully understand the provided information, which is something to be taken into account to improve in clinical routine. Therapeutic alliance supported by pharmacist experts on pain management can be an effective strategy to improve analgesic outcomes. Further efforts are needed to improve communication strategies for pain management. Future directions of research should include the analysis of the role of the pharmacist in poly-professional consultations as related to the advice of patients about their medication, and the mutual trust with the patients.
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21
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Henry SG, Fenton JJ, Campbell CI, Sullivan M, Weinberg G, Naz H, Graham WM, Dossett ML, Kravitz RL. Development and Testing of a Communication Intervention to Improve Chronic Pain Management in Primary Care: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial. Clin J Pain 2022; 38:620-631. [PMID: 36037051 PMCID: PMC9481730 DOI: 10.1097/ajp.0000000000001064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Effective communication skills are essential for optimally managing chronic pain and opioids. This exploratory, sequential mixed methods study tested the effect of a novel framework designed to improve pain-related communication and outcomes. METHODS Study 1 developed a novel 5-step framework for helping primary care clinicians discuss chronic pain and opioids with patients. Study 2 pilot tested an intervention for teaching this framework using standardized patient instructors-actors trained to portray patients and provide immediate clinician feedback-deployed during regular clinic hours. Primary care physicians were randomized to receive either the intervention or pain management recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Primary outcomes were pain-related interference at 2 months and clinician use of targeted communication skills (coded from transcripts of audio-recorded visits); secondary outcomes were pain intensity at 2 months, clinician self-efficacy for communicating about chronic pain, patient experience, and clinician-reported visit difficulty. RESULTS We enrolled 47 primary care physicians from 2 academic teaching clinics and recorded visits with 48 patients taking opioids for chronic pain who had an appointment scheduled with an enrolled physician. The intervention was not associated with significant changes in primary or secondary outcomes other than clinician self-efficacy, which was significantly greater in the intervention group. DISCUSSION This study developed a novel framework and intervention for teaching clinician pain-related communications skills. Although the intervention showed promise, more intensive or multicomponent interventions may be needed to have a significant impact on clinicians' pain-related communication and pain outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen G Henry
- Departments of Internal Medicine
- University of California Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, CA
| | - Joshua J Fenton
- Family and Community Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA
- University of California Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, CA
| | - Cynthia I Campbell
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA
| | - Mark Sullivan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
| | - Gary Weinberg
- University of California Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, CA
| | - Hiba Naz
- University of California Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, CA
| | - Wyatt M Graham
- University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA
| | | | - Richard L Kravitz
- Departments of Internal Medicine
- University of California Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, CA
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22
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Balbale SN, Iroz CB, Schäfer WLA, Johnson JK, Stulberg JJ. A Missing Piece of the Puzzle: Patient and Provider Perspectives on Pain Management Needs and Opioid Prescribing in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Care. CROHN'S & COLITIS 360 2022; 4:otac033. [PMID: 36777413 PMCID: PMC9802220 DOI: 10.1093/crocol/otac033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Recent data have shown high rates of opioid misuse among inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. We conducted a qualitative study to explore IBD patient and provider perceptions and experiences with pain management and opioid prescribing. Methods We conducted a focus group with IBD patients and semistructured interviews with IBD-focused physicians and nurses. We used an inductive approach for analysis and the constant comparison method to develop and refine codes and identify prominent themes. We analyzed interview and focus group data concurrently to triangulate themes. Results Nine patients and 10 providers participated. We grouped themes into 3 categories: (1) current practices to manage pain; (2) perceived pain management challenges; and (3) suggestions to optimize pain management. In the first category (current practices), both patients and providers reported building long-term patient-provider relationships and the importance of exploring nonpharmacologic pain management strategies. Patients reported proactively trying remedies infrequently recommended by IBD providers. In the second category (pain management challenges), patients and providers reported concerns about opioid use and having limited options to treat pain safely. Patients discussed chronic pain and having few solutions to manage it. In the third category, providers shared suggestions for improvement such as increasing use of nonpharmacologic pain management strategies and enhancing care coordination. Conclusions Despite some common themes between the 2 groups, we identified some pain management needs (eg, addressing chronic pain) that matter to patients but were seldom discussed by IBD providers. Addressing these areas of potential disconnect is essential to optimize pain management safety in IBD care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salva N Balbale
- Address correspondence to: Salva N. Balbale, PhD, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 N St Clair Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60611, USA ()
| | - Cassandra B Iroz
- Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Willemijn L A Schäfer
- Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research, Institute of Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA,Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Julie K Johnson
- Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research, Institute of Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA,Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jonah J Stulberg
- Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA,Department of Surgery, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA
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McKeown CA, Vollmer TR, Cameron MJ, Kinsella L, Shaibani S. Pediatric Pain and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Implications for Research and Practice in Behavior Analysis. Perspect Behav Sci 2022; 45:597-617. [DOI: 10.1007/s40614-022-00347-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Montag Schafer K, Pratt R, Ricco J, Brown K. "Can we have a little humanity here?": Patient perspectives on the impact of a standardized care process for patients who use opioids for the management of chronic pain. PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING 2022; 105:2404-2409. [PMID: 35184907 DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2022.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Standardized processes have evolved in response to the opioid epidemic. The impact of standardized processes on patients has not been adequately described. METHODS Five focus groups were held at four affiliated academic family medicine clinics. All participants experienced a transition to a standardized process for their ongoing opioid use for chronic, non-cancer pain. Data was analyzed and coded using a grounded theory approach with NVivo12 (QSR International). RESULTS Thirty patients participated. Five main themes emerged: experience of pain; view of opioid medications; view of opioid prescribing process changes; "good patients" and trust; and experience with medical clinicians and clinics. CONCLUSIONS Standardized processes created to improve the safety of opioid prescribing have burdened patients and resulted in a loss of trust and autonomy. Patients perceived greater risks for other patients prescribed opioids and processes are a result of their actions. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Healthcare systems must acknowledge patients' burden, shift away from interventions that are limited in supporting data, reinforce patient agency and shift the conversation to unsafe medications rather than supervision of "bad actors".
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Montag Schafer
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, 516 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | - Rebekah Pratt
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, 516 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Program in Health Disparities Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, 717 Delaware Street SE, Suite #166, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA
| | - Jason Ricco
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, 516 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Kathryn Brown
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, 516 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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Clinician Perspectives of Communication with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Managing Pain: Needs and Preferences. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19031572. [PMID: 35162593 PMCID: PMC8835490 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Poor communication is an important factor contributing to health disparity. This study sought to investigate clinicians’ perspectives about communicating with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients with pain. This multi-site and mixed-methods study involved clinicians from three pain management services in Queensland, Australia. Clinicians completed a survey and participated in focus groups. Clinicians rated the importance of communication training, their knowledge, ability, and confidence in communicating with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients using a 5-point Likert scale. Rating scores were combined into low (scores 1–2); moderate (score 3) and high (scores 4–5). Informed by an interpretive description methodology, thematic analysis of focus group data was used to identify the communication needs and training preferences of clinicians. Overall (N = 64), 88% of clinicians rated the importance of communication training when supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients as “high”. In contrast, far fewer clinicians rated as “high” their knowledge (28%), ability (25%) and confidence (28%) in effectively communicating with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. Thematic analysis identified three areas of need: knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, health beliefs, and understanding cross-cultural cues. Communication skills can be learned and training, in the form of a tailored intervention to support quality engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, should combine cultural and communication aspects with biomedical knowledge.
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26
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Patient-clinician brain concordance underlies causal dynamics in nonverbal communication and negative affective expressivity. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:44. [PMID: 35091536 PMCID: PMC8799700 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01810-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Patient-clinician concordance in behavior and brain activity has been proposed as a potential key mediator of mutual empathy and clinical rapport in the therapeutic encounter. However, the specific elements of patient-clinician communication that may support brain-to-brain concordance and therapeutic alliance are unknown. Here, we investigated how pain-related, directional facial communication between patients and clinicians is associated with brain-to-brain concordance. Patient-clinician dyads interacted in a pain-treatment context, during synchronous assessment of brain activity (fMRI hyperscanning) and online video transfer, enabling face-to-face social interaction. In-scanner videos were used for automated individual facial action unit (AU) time-series extraction. First, an interpretable machine-learning classifier of patients' facial expressions, from an independent fMRI experiment, significantly distinguished moderately painful leg pressure from innocuous pressure stimuli. Next, we estimated neural-network causality of patient-to-clinician directional information flow of facial expressions during clinician-initiated treatment of patients' evoked pain. We identified a leader-follower relationship in which patients predominantly led the facial communication while clinicians responded to patients' expressions. Finally, analyses of dynamic brain-to-brain concordance showed that patients' mid/posterior insular concordance with the clinicians' anterior insula cortex, a region identified in previously published data from this study1, was associated with therapeutic alliance, and self-reported and objective (patient-to-clinician-directed causal influence) markers of negative-affect expressivity. These results suggest a role of patient-clinician concordance of the insula, a social-mirroring and salience-processing brain node, in mediating directional dynamics of pain-directed facial communication during therapeutic encounters.
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Rao N, Perdomo S, Jonassaint C. A Novel Method for Digital Pain Assessment Using Abstract Animations: Human-Centered Design Approach. JMIR Hum Factors 2022; 9:e27689. [PMID: 34994697 PMCID: PMC8783278 DOI: 10.2196/27689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Patients with chronic pain face several challenges in using clinical tools to help them monitor, understand, and make meaningful decisions about their pain conditions. Our group previously presented data on Painimation, a novel electronic tool for communicating and assessing pain. Objective This paper describes the human-centered design and development approach (inspiration, ideation, and implementation) that led to the creation of Painimation. Methods We planned an iterative and cyclical development process that included stakeholder engagement and feedback from users. Stakeholders included patients with acute and chronic pain, health care providers, and design students. Target users were adults with acute or chronic pain who needed clinical assessment and tracking of the course of their pain over time. Phase I (inspiration) consisted of empathizing with users, understanding how patients experience pain, and identifying the barriers to accurately expressing and assessing pain. This phase involved understanding how patients communicate pain symptoms to providers, as well as defining limitations of current models of clinical pain assessment tools. In Phase II (ideate) we conceptualized and evaluated different approaches to expressing and assessing pain. The most promising concept was developed through an iterative process that involved end users and stakeholders. In Phase III (implementation), based on stakeholder feedback from initial designs and prototypes of abstract pain animations (painimations), we incorporated all concepts to test a minimally viable product, a fully functioning pain assessment app. We then gathered feedback through an agile development process and applied this feedback to finalizing a testable version of the app that could ultimately be used in a pain clinic. Results Engaging intended users and stakeholders in an iterative, human-centered design process identified 5 criteria that a pain assessment tool would need to meet to be effective in the medical setting. These criteria were used as guiding design principles to generate a series of pain assessment concept ideas. This human-centered approach generated 8 highly visual painimations that were found to be acceptable and useable for communicating pain with medical providers, by both patients with general pain and patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). While these initial steps continued refinement of the tool, further data are needed. Agile development will allow us to continue to incorporate precision medicine tools that are validated in the clinical research arena. Conclusions A multiphase, human-centered design approach successfully resulted in the development of an innovation that has potential to improve the quality of medical care, particularly for underserved populations. The use of Painimation may especially benefit the medical care of minority populations with chronic and difficult-to-treat pain, such as adults with SCD. The insights generated from this study can be applied to the development of patient-reported outcomes tools that are more patient-centered, engaging, and effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nema Rao
- Microsoft Inc, SharePoint Spaces, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Sophy Perdomo
- Center for Behavioral Health and Smart Technology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Charles Jonassaint
- Center for Behavioral Health and Smart Technology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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28
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Matthias MS, Henry SG. Reducing Frustration and Improving Management of Chronic Pain in Primary Care: Is Shared Decision-making Sufficient? J Gen Intern Med 2022; 37:227-228. [PMID: 34173195 PMCID: PMC8739407 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-021-06967-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Marianne S Matthias
- VA HSR&D Center for Health Information and Communication, Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA. .,Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA. .,Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
| | - Stephen G Henry
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.,UC Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, Sacramento, CA, USA
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White AEC, Hood-Medland EA, Kravitz RL, Henry SG. Visit Linearity in Primary Care Visits for Patients with Chronic Pain on Long-term Opioid Therapy. J Gen Intern Med 2022; 37:78-86. [PMID: 34159543 PMCID: PMC8738805 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-021-06917-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physicians and patients report frustration after primary care visits for chronic pain. The need to shift between multiple clinical topics to address competing demands during visits may contribute to this frustration. OBJECTIVE This study creates a novel measure, "visit linearity," to assess visit organization and examines whether visits that require less shifting back and forth between topics are associated with better patient and physician visit experiences. It also explores whether visit linearity differs depending on the following: (1) whether or not pain is a major topic of the visit and (2) whether or not pain is the first topic raised. DESIGN This study analyzed 41 video-recorded visits using inductive, qualitative analysis informed by conversation analysis. We used linear regression to evaluate associations between visit organization and post-visit measures of participant experience. PARTICIPANTS Patients were established adult patients planning to discuss pain management during routine primary care. Physicians were internal or family medicine residents. MAIN MEASURES Visit linearity, total topics, return topics, topic shifts, time per topic, visit duration, pain main topic, pain first topic, patient experience, and physician difficulty. KEY RESULTS Visits had a mean of 8.1 total topics (standard deviation (SD)=3.46), 14.5 topic shifts (SD=6.28), and 1.9 topic shifts per topic (SD=0.62). Less linear visits (higher topic shifts to topic ratio) were associated with greater physician visit difficulty (β=7.28, p<0.001) and worse patient experience (β= -0.62, p=0.03). Visit linearity was not significantly impacted by pain as a major or first topic raised. CONCLUSIONS In primary care visits for patients with chronic pain taking opioids, more linear visits were associated with better physician and patient experience. Frequent topic shifts may be disruptive. If confirmed in future research, this finding implies that reducing shifts between topics could help decrease mutual frustration related to discussions about pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Elizabeth Clark White
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA USA
- University of California Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Eve Angeline Hood-Medland
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA USA
- University of California Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Richard L. Kravitz
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA USA
- University of California Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Stephen G. Henry
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA USA
- University of California Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, Sacramento, CA USA
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30
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Buck C, Keweloh C, Bouras A, Simoes EJ. Efficacy of Short Message Service Text Messaging Interventions for Postoperative Pain Management: Systematic Review. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2021; 9:e20199. [PMID: 34132646 PMCID: PMC8277313 DOI: 10.2196/20199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Addiction to opiates and synthetic opioids poses a major threat to public health worldwide, with pharmaceutical opioids prescribed to manage pain constituting the main problem. To counteract this threat, suitable pain management strategies should be implemented in health care. Monitoring pain management seems to be feasible using telemedicine with a certain degree of resource intensity and digitization. As a communication channel for this type of monitoring, SMS appears to be a valid alternative. Objective The aim of this systematic literature review was to (1) provide information on the state of research regarding postoperative pain management via SMS, (2) establish a basic understanding of SMS-based pain management, and (3) provide insight into the feasibility of these management strategies. The research question was as follows: Is postoperative pain management feasible and effective utilizing SMS? Methods A systematic literature review was performed mainly following the PRISMA guidelines and another guide on performing a systematic literature review for information systems–related research. A search string was developed based on the objectives and research question, and eight databases were searched. Results The initial search resulted in 2083 records, which could be narrowed down by applying various exclusion criteria. Thereby, 11 articles were identified as relevant, which were accordingly analyzed and evaluated by full-text screening. In all articles, pain management interventions were performed using SMS communication between health care professionals and patients or their legal guardians. A prospective approach was predominantly chosen as the study design (91%) with the leading research objective of determining the intervention’s feasibility (73%). The primary reason for sending SMS messages was to monitor patients (64%). Overall, the use of SMS improved adherence, acceptance, and satisfaction regarding postoperative pain management. With an average response rate of approximately 89.5% (SD 3.8%), the reliability of SMS as a communication and monitoring tool was further emphasized. This response rate is significantly higher than that for email interventions (66.63%, P<.001). Conclusions This study provides a comprehensive picture of the current status on postoperative pain management by SMS. Communication via SMS was beneficial in all interventions, even preoperative. Six SMS interventions could be certified by the respective institutional review board and three were Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act–compliant. Therefore, the results of this study could be leveraged to address the opioid epidemic. Overall, the research question could be confirmed. Future research should extend this systematic literature review regarding preoperative pain management. Based on these findings, a pre- and postoperative communication model should be developed to address the opioid epidemic effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Buck
- School of Business and Economics, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Project Group Business and Information Systems Engineering, Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology FIT, Bayreuth, Germany
| | | | - Adam Bouras
- School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Eduardo J Simoes
- School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
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Intergroup anxiety in pain care: impact on treatment recommendations made by white providers for black patients. Pain 2021; 161:1264-1269. [PMID: 31939768 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Race disparities in pain care are well-documented. Given that most black patients are treated by white providers, patient-provider racial discordance is one hypothesized contributor to these disparities. Research and theory suggest that providers' trait-level intergroup anxiety impacts their state-level comfort while treating patients, which, in turn, impacts their pain treatment decisions. To test these hypothesized relationships, we conducted a planned secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial of a perspective-taking intervention to reduce pain treatment disparities. Mediation analyses were conducted on treatment decision data from white providers for black virtual patients with chronic pain. Results indicated that white providers with higher trait-level intergroup anxiety reported lower state-level comfort treating black patients and were thereby more likely to recommend opioid (indirect effect = 0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.21-1.51) and pain specialty (indirect effect = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.26-1.78) treatments and less likely to recommend nonopioid analgesics (indirect effect = -0.45, 95% CI: -0.94 to -0.12). Neither trait-level intergroup anxiety nor state-level comfort significantly influenced provider decisions for physical therapy. This study provides important new information about intrapersonal and interpersonal contributors to race disparities in chronic pain care. These findings suggest that intergroup anxiety and the resulting situational discomfort encroach on the clinical decision-making process by influencing white providers' decisions about which pain treatments to recommend to black patients. Should these findings be replicated in future studies, they would support interventions to help providers become more aware of their trait-level intergroup anxiety and manage their state-level reactions to patients who are racially/ethnically different from themselves.
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Opioid Prescriptions in Chronic Pain Rehabilitation. A Prospective Study on the Prevalence and Association between Individual Patient Characteristics and Opioids. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10102130. [PMID: 34069098 PMCID: PMC8155870 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10102130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
While against recommendations, long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) for chronic pain is common. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of opioid prescriptions and to study the association of patient characteristics (demographics, pain characteristics, anxiety, depressive symptoms and pain coping) with future LTOT. The sample included N = 1334 chronic musculoskeletal pain patients, aged 18–65, who were assessed for Interdisciplinary Multimodal Pain Rehabilitation (IMMR) in Swedish specialist rehabilitation. Prescriptions were tracked across a two-year target period after assessment. In total, 9100 opioid prescriptions were prescribed to 55% of the sample (Mmedian = 6, IQR = 14). Prediction of LTOT was analyzed separately for those who did (24%) and did not (76%) receive IMMR. The odds of receiving opioids was similar for these subsamples, after controlling for differences in baseline characteristics. In both samples, there were significant associations between patient characteristics and future opioid prescriptions. Dysfunctional pain coping was a unique predictor of LTOT in those who received IMMR while pain intensity and depressive symptoms were unique predictors in those who did not receive IMMR. The results underscore that opioid treatment is common among patients in chronic pain rehabilitation and relates to pain and psychological factors. Understanding in detail why these factors relate to opioid prescription patterns is an important future study area as it is a prerequisite for better management and fundamental for preventing overuse.
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Popkirov S, Enax-Krumova EK, Mainka T, Hoheisel M, Hausteiner-Wiehle C. Functional pain disorders - more than nociplastic pain. NeuroRehabilitation 2021; 47:343-353. [PMID: 32986624 DOI: 10.3233/nre-208007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nociplastic pain has been recently introduced as a third mechanistic descriptor of pain arising primarily from alterations of neural processing, in contrast to pain due to tissue damage leading to nociceptor activation (nociceptive) or due to lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system (neuropathic). It is characterized by hyperalgesia and allodynia, inconsistency and reversibility, as well as dynamic cross-system interactions with biological and psychobehavioral factors. Along with this renewed understanding, functional pain disorders, also classified as chronic primary pain, are being reframed as biopsychosocial conditions that benefit from multimodal treatment. OBJECTIVE To summarize the current understanding of nociplastic pain and functional pain disorders, with a focus on conditions that are common in neurology practice. METHODS This was a narrative literature review. RESULTS Chronic back pain, fibromyalgia syndrome and complex regional pain syndrome are best understood within a biopsychosocial framework of pain perception that considers structural factors (predispositions and sequelae) and psychobehavioral mechanisms. Although pain is often the primary complaint, it should not be the only focus of treatment, as accompanying symptoms such as sleep or mood problems can significantly impact quality of life and offer useful leverage points for multimodal treatment. Analgesic pharmacotherapy is rarely helpful on its own, and should always be imbedded in a multidisciplinary setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stoyan Popkirov
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Elena K Enax-Krumova
- Department of Neurology, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Tina Mainka
- Department of Neurology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Constanze Hausteiner-Wiehle
- Neurocenter, BG Trauma Center Murnau, Murnau, Germany.,Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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34
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Pain Phenotypes in Rare Musculoskeletal and Neuromuscular Diseases. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 124:267-290. [PMID: 33581222 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
For patients diagnosed with a rare musculoskeletal or neuromuscular disease, pain may transition from acute to chronic; the latter yielding additional challenges for both patients and care providers. We assessed the present understanding of pain across a set of ten rare, noninfectious, noncancerous disorders; Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Achondroplasia, Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva, Fibrous Dysplasia/McCune-Albright Syndrome, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Infantile- and Late-Onset Pompe disease, Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Through the integration of natural history, cross-sectional, retrospective, clinical trials, & case studies we described pathologic and genetic factors, pain sources, phenotypes, and lastly, existing therapeutic approaches. We highlight that while rare diseases possess distinct core pathologic features, there are a number of shared pain phenotypes and mechanisms that may be prospectively examined and therapeutically targeted in a parallel manner. Finally, we describe clinical and research approaches that may facilitate more accurate diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of pain as well as elucidation of the evolving nature of pain phenotypes in rare musculoskeletal or neuromuscular illnesses.
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35
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Hood-Medland EA, White AEC, Kravitz RL, Henry SG. Agenda setting and visit openings in primary care visits involving patients taking opioids for chronic pain. BMC FAMILY PRACTICE 2021; 22:4. [PMID: 33397299 PMCID: PMC7780618 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-020-01317-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Background Agenda setting is associated with more efficient care and better patient experience. This study develops a taxonomy of visit opening styles to assess use of agenda and non-agenda setting visit openings and their effects on participant experience. Methods This observational study analyzed 83 video recorded US primary care visits at a single academic medical center in California involving family medicine and internal medicine resident physicians (n = 49) and patients (n = 83) with chronic pain on opioids. Using conversation analysis, we developed a coding scheme that assessed the presence of agenda setting, distinct visit opening styles, and the number of total topics, major topics, surprise patient topics, and returns to prior topics discussed. Exploratory quantitative analyses were conducted to assess the relationship of agenda setting and visit opening styles with post-visit measures of both patient experience and physician perception of visit difficulty. Results We identified 2 visit opening styles representing agenda setting (agenda eliciting, agenda reframing) and 3 non-agenda setting opening styles (open-ended question, patient launch, physician launch). Agenda setting was only performed in 11% of visits and was associated with fewer surprise patient topics than visits without agenda setting (mean (SD) 2.67 (1.66) versus 4.28 (3.23), p = 0.03). Conclusions In this study of patients with chronic pain, resident physicians rarely performed agenda setting, whether defined in terms of “agenda eliciting” or “agenda re-framing.” Agenda setting was associated with fewer surprise topics. Understanding the communication context and outcomes of agenda setting may inform better use of this communication tool in primary care practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eve Angeline Hood-Medland
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis, 4150 V Street Suite 2400, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.,University of California Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Anne E C White
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis, 4150 V Street Suite 2400, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA. .,University of California Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, Sacramento, CA, USA.
| | - Richard L Kravitz
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis, 4150 V Street Suite 2400, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.,University of California Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Stephen G Henry
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis, 4150 V Street Suite 2400, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.,University of California Davis Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, Sacramento, CA, USA
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36
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Boloori A, Arnetz BB, Viens F, Maiti T, Arnetz JE. Misalignment of Stakeholder Incentives in the Opioid Crisis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E7535. [PMID: 33081276 PMCID: PMC7589670 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17207535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The current opioid epidemic has killed more than 446,000 Americans over the past two decades. Despite the magnitude of the crisis, little is known to what degree the misalignment of incentives among stakeholders due to competing interests has contributed to the current situation. In this study, we explore evidence in the literature for the working hypothesis that misalignment rooted in the cost, quality, or access to care can be a significant contributor to the opioid epidemic. The review identified several problems that can contribute to incentive misalignment by compromising the triple aims (cost, quality, and access) in this epidemic. Some of these issues include the inefficacy of conventional payment mechanisms in providing incentives for providers, practice guidelines in pain management that are not easily implementable across different medical specialties, barriers in adopting multi-modal pain management strategies, low capacity of providers/treatments to address opioid/substance use disorders, the complexity of addressing the co-occurrence of chronic pain and opioid use disorders, and patients' non-adherence to opioid substitution treatments. In discussing these issues, we also shed light on factors that can facilitate the alignment of incentives among stakeholders to effectively address the current crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Boloori
- Department of Statistics and Probability, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; (F.V.); (T.M.)
- Department of Family Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA; (B.B.A.); (J.E.A.)
| | - Bengt B. Arnetz
- Department of Family Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA; (B.B.A.); (J.E.A.)
| | - Frederi Viens
- Department of Statistics and Probability, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; (F.V.); (T.M.)
| | - Taps Maiti
- Department of Statistics and Probability, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; (F.V.); (T.M.)
| | - Judith E. Arnetz
- Department of Family Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA; (B.B.A.); (J.E.A.)
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Matthias MS, Talib TL, Huffman MA. Managing Chronic Pain in an Opioid Crisis: What Is the Role of Shared Decision-Making? HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2020; 35:1239-1247. [PMID: 31179769 PMCID: PMC6901808 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2019.1625000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Shared decision-making (SDM) is a widely-advocated practice that has been linked to improved patient adherence, satisfaction, and clinical outcomes. SDM is a process in which patients and providers share information, express opinions, and build consensus toward a treatment decision. Chronic pain and its treatment present unique challenges for SDM, especially in the current environment in which opioids are viewed as harmful and a national opioid crisis has been declared. The purpose of this qualitative study is to understand treatment decision-making with patients taking opioids for chronic pain. Ninety-five clinic visits and 31 interviews with patients and primary care providers (PCPs) were analyzed using the constant comparison method. Results revealed that 1) PCPs desire patient participation in treatment decisions, but with caveats where opioids are concerned; 2) Disagreements about opioids, including perceptions of lack of listening, presented challenges to SDM; and 3) PCPs described engaging in persuasion or negotiation to convince patients to try alternatives to opioids, or appeasing patients requesting opioids with very small amounts in an effort to maintain the patient-provider relationship. Results are discussed through the lens of Charles, Gafni, and Whelan's SDM model, and implications of the role of the patient-provider relationship in SDM and chronic pain treatment are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne S Matthias
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Health Information and Communication
- Department of Communication Studies, Indiana University-Purdue University
- Regenstrief Institute
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine
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38
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Henry SG, Gosdin MM, White AEC, Kravitz RL. "It Sometimes Doesn't Even Work": Patient Opioid Assessments as Clues to Therapeutic Flexibility in Primary Care. J Gen Intern Med 2020; 35:1635-1640. [PMID: 31659669 PMCID: PMC7280428 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-019-05421-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physicians' fear of difficult patient interactions is an important barrier to discontinuing long-term opioid therapy. OBJECTIVE To identify patient statements about opioids that indicate potential openness to tapering opioids or trying non-opioid pain treatments DESIGN: This is an observational study of regularly scheduled primary care visits involving discussion of chronic pain management. A coding system to characterize patient assessments about opioids, physician responses to assessments, and patient-endorsed opioid side effects was developed and applied to transcripts of video-recorded visits. All visits were independently coded by 2 authors. PARTICIPANTS Eighty-six established adult patients taking opioids for chronic pain; 49 physicians in 2 academic primary care clinics MAIN MEASURES: Frequency and topic of patients' opioid assessments; proportion of opioid assessments classified as clues (assessments indicating potential willingness to consider non-opioid pain treatments or lower opioid doses); physician responses to patient clues; frequency and type of patient-endorsed side effects KEY RESULTS: Patients made a mean of 3.2 opioid assessments (median 2) per visit. The most common assessment topics were pain relief (51%), effect on function (21%), and opioid safety (14%). Forty-seven percent of opioid assessments (mean 1.5 per visit) were classified as clues. Fifty-three percent of visits included ≥ 1 clue; 21% of visits contained ≥ 3 clues. Physicians responded to patient clues with no/minimal response 43% of the time, sympathetic/empathetic statements 14% of the time, and further explored clues 43% of the time. Fifty-eight percent of patients endorsed ≥ 1 opioid-related side effect; 10% endorsed ≥ 3 side effects. The most commonly endorsed side effects were constipation (15% of patients), sedation (15%), withdrawal symptoms (13%), and nausea (12%). CONCLUSIONS Patient statements suggesting openness to non-opioid pain treatments or lower opioid doses are common during routine primary care visits. Listening for and exploring these clues may be a patient-centered strategy for broaching difficult topics with patients on long-term opioid therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen G Henry
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA. .,Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.
| | - Melissa M Gosdin
- Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Anne E C White
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.,Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Richard L Kravitz
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.,Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
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39
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Taylor JL, Drazich BF, Roberts L, Okoye S, Rivers E, Wenzel J, Wright R, Beach MC, Szanton SL. Pain in low-income older women with disabilities: a qualitative descriptive study. J Women Aging 2020; 32:402-423. [PMID: 32475259 DOI: 10.1080/08952841.2020.1763895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify how low-income older women with disabilities perceive pain, pain management, and communication with healthcare providers. We interviewed 26 low-income women (average age 75 years; SD 7.0), eliciting the following overarching themes: "Invisibility of Pain: Unnoticed or Undetected," "Escalating Pain Leads to Help Seeking," "Communication with Healthcare Providers and Outcomes," "Pain Management Facilitates Function and Accomplishment," and "The Intersection of Pain, Disability, and Depressive Symptoms." Study findings support the ways in which behavior changes from pain can impede pain management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janiece L Taylor
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Laken Roberts
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Safiyyah Okoye
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Emerald Rivers
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jennifer Wenzel
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Rebecca Wright
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Sarah L Szanton
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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40
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O'Leary S, Gale J, Volker G, Kuipers P, Dalton M, McPhail S. Fostering patient uptake of recommended health services and self-management strategies for musculoskeletal conditions: A Delphi study of clinician attributes. Musculoskeletal Care 2020; 18:161-168. [PMID: 31984628 DOI: 10.1002/msc.1448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Successful management of musculoskeletal conditions depends on active patient engagement and uptake of recommended health services and self-management strategies. Clinicians have a strong influence on patient uptake behaviours. Both clinicians and educators need to recognise the clinician's influence on patient uptake as a specific clinical skillset to be professionally developed. To inform professional development strategies this study explored priority clinician attributes that underpin the clinical skillset of fostering patient uptake. METHODS A three-round Delphi process engaged relevant stakeholders including a professional panel (clinicians, health managers, education providers) and a patient panel. Panel members deliberated and reached consensus regarding key attributes required by allied health clinicians who manage patients with musculoskeletal disorders to optimize patient uptake behaviours. In the final round, panel members rated the importance of each attribute on a numerical rating scale. RESULTS Overall 12 attributes were finalised. Both the professional and the patient panel provided a high rating of importance for all finalised attributes with 'patient centred communication' rated the highest importance (median scores 9.5-10/10) and 'contemporary electronics and media' rated the lowest (median scores 6-7/10). CONCLUSIONS There appears to be agreement on a basic inventory of clinician attributes which positively influence patient uptake when managing musculoskeletal conditions. Professional development and training programs for clinicians managing musculoskeletal conditions may need to consider discipline relevant aspects of these attributes to advance the development of clinicians in this aspect of professional practice to attain better patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaun O'Leary
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.,Physiotherapy Department, Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Janette Gale
- HealthChange Australia, Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Glen Volker
- Physiotherapy Department, Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Pim Kuipers
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Australia.,Centre for Functioning and Health Research, Queensland Health, Cnr of Ipswich Road and Cornwall Street, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Megan Dalton
- School of Physiotherapy, Australian Catholic University, Queensland, Australia
| | - Steven McPhail
- Centre for Functioning and Health Research, Queensland Health, Cnr of Ipswich Road and Cornwall Street, Brisbane, Australia.,School of Public Health & Social Work and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Brisbane, Australia
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41
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Gruß I, Firemark A, McMullen CK, Mayhew M, DeBar LL. Satisfaction with Primary Care Providers and Health Care Services Among Patients with Chronic Pain: a Mixed-Methods Study. J Gen Intern Med 2020; 35:190-197. [PMID: 31637639 PMCID: PMC6957630 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-019-05339-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic pain is a prevalent health concern in the United States (US) and a frequent reason for patients to seek primary care. The challenges associated with developing effective pain management strategies can be perceived as a burden on the patient-provider relationship. OBJECTIVE This study explored the relationship between patients' overall satisfaction with their primary care providers (PCPs) and their satisfaction with their chronic pain treatment, as well as the provider behaviors that contributed to chronic pain patients' satisfaction with their PCPs. DESIGN Concurrent nested mixed-methods design PARTICIPANTS: 97 patients with chronic pain who were assigned to the usual care arm of the Pain Program for Active Coping and Training (PPACT) study. APPROACH We analyzed phone interview and survey data (n = 97). Interviews assessed provider behaviors that led to patient satisfaction. Interview transcripts were analyzed based on a content analysis approach. Survey responses assessed patient satisfaction with primary care and pain services. We calculated a Pearson's correlation coefficient using five response categories. KEY RESULTS Interviews revealed that high satisfaction with primary care was driven by five concrete PCP behaviors: (1) listening, (2) maintaining communication with patients, (3) acting as an access point to comprehensive pain care, (4) providing an honest assessment of the possibilities of pain care, and (5) taking time during consultations with patients. In surveys, participants reported higher satisfaction with their primary care services than with the pain services they received; these variables were only moderately correlated (r = 0.586). CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that patients with chronic pain can view the relationship with their PCPs as positive, even in the face of low satisfaction with their pain treatment. The expectations that these patients held of PCPs could be met regardless of providers' ability to successfully relieve chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inga Gruß
- Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, OR, USA.
| | - Alison Firemark
- Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, OR, USA
| | | | - Meghan Mayhew
- Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Lynn L DeBar
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
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42
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Factors Related to Agreement Between Child and Caregiver Report of Child Functioning With Chronic Pain. Clin J Pain 2019; 36:203-212. [DOI: 10.1097/ajp.0000000000000794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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43
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Danielson EC, Mazurenko O, Andraka-Christou BT, DiIulio J, Downs SM, Hurley RW, Harle CA. An Analysis of Primary Care Clinician Communication About Risk, Benefits, and Goals Related to Chronic Opioid Therapy. MDM Policy Pract 2019; 4:2381468319892572. [PMID: 31853506 PMCID: PMC6906357 DOI: 10.1177/2381468319892572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. Safe opioid prescribing and effective pain care are particularly important issues in the United States, where decades of widespread opioid prescribing have contributed to high rates of opioid use disorder. Because of the importance of clinician-patient communication in effective pain care and recent initiatives to curb rising opioid overdose deaths, this study sought to understand how clinicians and patients communicate about the risks, benefits, and goals of opioid therapy during primary care visits. Methods. We recruited clinicians and patients from six primary care clinics across three health systems in the Midwest United States. We audio-recorded 30 unique patients currently receiving opioids for chronic noncancer pain from 12 clinicians. We systematically analyzed transcribed, clinic visits to identify emergent themes. Results. Twenty of the 30 patient participants were females. Several patients had multiple pain diagnoses, with the most common diagnoses being osteoarthritis (n = 10), spondylosis (n = 6), and low back pain (n = 5). We identified five themes: 1) communication about individual-level and population-level risks, 2) communication about policies or clinical guidelines related to opioids, 3) communication about the limited effectiveness of opioids for chronic pain conditions, 4) communication about nonopioid therapies for chronic pain, and 5) communication about the goal of the opioid tapering. Conclusions. Clinicians discuss opioid-related risks in varying ways during patient visits, which may differentially affect patient experiences. Our findings may inform the development and use of more standardized approaches to discussing opioids during primary care visits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth C. Danielson
- Department of Health Policy and Management,
Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health,
Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Olena Mazurenko
- Department of Health Policy and Management,
Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health,
Indianapolis, Indiana
| | | | | | - Sarah M. Downs
- Department of Health Policy and Management,
Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health,
Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Robert W. Hurley
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine,
Winston Salem, North Carolina
| | - Christopher A. Harle
- Department of Health Policy and Management,
Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health,
Indianapolis, Indiana
- Regenstrief Institute Center for Biomedical
Informatics, Indianapolis, IN
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44
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Sager Z, Childers J. Navigating Challenging Conversations About Nonmedical Opioid Use in the Context of Oncology. Oncologist 2019; 24:1299-1304. [PMID: 31152081 PMCID: PMC6795161 DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.2019-0277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioids are commonly used in the context of oncology to treat cancer-related pain. In the context of increased awareness of nonmedical use of opioids, including misuse and opioid use disorder among individuals with cancer, oncologists may find themselves having difficult conversations with patients regarding the use of opioids. We offer a review of pertinent literature and a conversation framework for providers to use, as well as key communication strategies for clinicians. Building on the therapeutic alliance between provider and patient, emphasizing the importance of nonabandonment, and using a benefit-to-harm framework, we hope clinicians find they are more able to navigate these challenging but important conversations with patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Providers may find it difficult and uncomfortable to discuss nonmedical use of opioids with patients. To the authors' knowledge, no previous articles discuss ways to communicate about nonmedical use of opioids in the oncology setting. This work borrows from other specialties and offers a communication framework and key communication strategies to help clinications communicate more effectively with patients who may have an opioid use disorder or may be using their prescribed opioids for reasons other than their pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Sager
- New England Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Section of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Julie Childers
- Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics and Section of Treatment, Research and Education in Addiction Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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45
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Shields CG, Fuzzell LN, Christ SL, Matthias MS. Patient and provider characteristics associated with communication about opioids: An observational study. PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING 2019; 102:888-894. [PMID: 30552013 PMCID: PMC6491239 DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2018.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Revised: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Our objective is to examine the relationship of patient and provider characteristics and communication with chronic non-cancer pain and opioid management in primary care. METHOD We conducted an observational study using audio-recorded primary care appointments (up to 3/patient) and self-reported assessments of primary care providers (PCPs) and patients. We coded visit transcripts for 1) opioid and pain management talk and 2) mental health and opioid safety talk. RESULTS Eight PCPs and 30 patients had complete data for 78 clinic visits. PCPs and patients engaged in more opioid and pain management talk when patients reported greater pain catastrophizing and PCPs reported higher psychosocial orientation. PCPs and patients engaged in talk about mental health and opioid safety when patients reported greater anxiety, higher working alliance with their PCP, and when PCPs reported higher burnout. PCPs' negative attitudes about opioids were associated with fewer discussions about mental health and opioid safety. CONCLUSIONS Our results should facilitate design of interventions that improve communication and, ultimately, pain outcomes for patients. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Clinicians can use our results to increase patient engagement in discussions about opioid use and pain management or mental health and safety discussions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cleveland G Shields
- Purdue University, Department of Human Development & Family Studies, Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering, Purdue University, Purdue Center for Cancer Research, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
| | - Lindsay N Fuzzell
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Sharon L Christ
- Purdue University, Department of Human Development & Family Studies, Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering, Purdue University, Purdue Center for Cancer Research, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue University, Department of Statistics, West Lafayette, IN, 47906, USA
| | - Marianne S Matthias
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Regenstrief Institute, Inc., Indianapolis, IN, USA; Department of Communication Studies, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Center for Health Information and Communication, Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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46
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Meints SM, Cortes A, Morais CA, Edwards RR. Racial and ethnic differences in the experience and treatment of noncancer pain. Pain Manag 2019; 9:317-334. [PMID: 31140916 PMCID: PMC6587104 DOI: 10.2217/pmt-2018-0030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The burden of pain is unequal across racial and ethnic groups. In addition to racial and ethnic differences in the experience of pain, there are racial and ethnic disparities in the assessment and treatment of pain. In this article, we provide a nonexhaustive review of the biopsychosocial mechanistic factors contributing to racial and ethnic differences in both the experience and treatment of pain. Using a modified version of the Socioecological Model, we focus on patient-, provider- and system-level factors including coping, perceived bias and discrimination, patient preferences, expectations, patient/provider communication, treatment outcomes and healthcare access. In conclusion, we provide psychosocial factors influencing racial and ethnic differences in pain and highlight future research targets and possible solutions to reduce these disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Meints
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Management Center, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
- Orthopaedic and Arthritis Center for Outcomes Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Alejandro Cortes
- Orthopaedic and Arthritis Center for Outcomes Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Calia A Morais
- Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Robert R Edwards
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Management Center, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
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