Compliance in pain rehabilitation: patient and provider perspectives

To identify potential predictors and correlates of compliance and to examine differences between patient and provider perspectives on compliance.

One hundred eighty-four patients (84 men and 96 women) were recruited from a chronic pain treatment program for this telephone follow-up study.

Health care providers (HCPs) reported making more recommendations than patients reported hearing. Patients rated themselves as more compliant than did HCPs. Overall compliance rates at a >6-month follow-up were 89% from the patients' perspective and 70% from the HCPs' perspective. HCPs rated compliance specific to psychological care as more related to positive outcomes than did patients. Participants' pain and anxiety ratings at a >6-month follow-up and satisfaction with treatment were significantly associated with patients' compliance ratings. For HCP-rated compliance, only HCPs' perceived benefit and interference from compliance were associated.

Results suggest important disparities between HCPs and patients on remembered recommendations, levels of compliance, and health-related importance of complying with recommendations.