Implementing a pain psychology screening process in primary care

Integrating pain psychology in primary care has the potential to improve symptom burden; however, identifying those who may benefit is a challenge. The purpose of this study was to gather feedback from a multidisciplinary team to optimize digital screening and referral for psychological treatment of chronic pain distress within primary care.

Team members in a primary care clinic were introduced to the proposed screening process and offered the opportunity to complete a feedback survey. The proposed workflow involved the customer service representative providing patients with digital screeners on an iPad, results transferring to the electronic health record, and a medical assistant (MA) returning the iPad. Positive screens would alert the MA to start the referral process in the electronic health record then signaling the physician to discuss the referral to the psychology team with the patient.

Sixty-eight percent of individuals agreed or strongly agreed that screening for chronic pain and distress is important. Sixty six percent of the respondents selected the customer service representatives as the ideal team member to give the iPad to patients and 84% responded that MAs should be responsible for returning the iPad to the front desk. Some thought a positive screen should directly alert physicians (58%) whereas 40% indicated a preference for signaling the MAs to start the referral process.

Team members had favorable opinions about integrating digital chronic pain distress screening. The logistics of the screening and referral process were finalized based on this feedback and will be integrated into the clinic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).