Patient and provider perspectives on patient-centered chronic pain management

Fifty million American adults have chronic pain, and nearly 20 million have high-impact, or disabling, chronic pain, with higher prevalence associated with advancing age. Patient-centered pain management has been cited as a national priority to ensure that patient values and preferences guide clinical decisions. However, explicit, and practical strategies for implementing patient-centered pain management have not been disseminated.

The aim of this study was to elicit perceptions, beliefs, and experiences of patient-centered pain management among adults with chronic pain as well as among providers that could be used to develop recommendations for implementation and evaluation of patient-centered pain management.

A descriptive qualitative study.

Fourteen adults with chronic pain were recruited from the communities. Besides, five providers caring for patients with chronic pain at an outpatient spine center affiliated to one academic hospital joined this study.

Each focus group lasted about 1 hour, which was recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using Erlingsson and Brysiewicz's content analysis to identify themes and develop recommendations.

Four overarching themes emerged, including: (1) patient and (2) provider characteristics affecting patient-centered pain management; (3) processes and (4) outcomes of patient-centered pain management. We also visually depicted the determinants, processes, and outcomes of patient-centered pain management among providers and individuals with chronic pain.

Patients emphasized their desire for a provider that listens, genuinely cares, and sees them holistically to provide the best individual and tailored care for them. Providers focused on setting realistic expectations, vocalizing the significance of pain education at a young age, and balancing patient satisfaction and opioid prescriptions. While patients can be empowered to self-manage their chronic pain due to patient-centered pain care, provider mental exhaustion and mistrust of providers among patients resulted from suboptimal pain management.