Practical Application of Value-Based Medicine in Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Qualitative Study

Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) is prevalent and a complex multifactorial condition. The incidence is rising. CPPS patients may benefit from multidisciplinary care in a structured care pathway.

The aim of this explorative study is to give an overview of patient and healthcare provider perspectives on the current patient journey to implement these perspectives in a CPPS care pathway.

A Qualitative study was performed using nominal group technique. The participants were nine female patients CPPS and fourteen healthcare providers involved in CPPS care. The perspectives of the stakeholder groups on the individual components of the CPPS patient journey were collected.

Five overarching key topics were identified: structured start of the patient journey, execution of the patient journey, follow-up after the patient journey, administration during the patient journey, and communication and education. The following recommendations were formulated based on the prioritised points: implementation of a multidisciplinary approach from the start of the journey, adding a case manager and expanding the multidisciplinary team, providing a collaborative triage, updating the questionnaires, improving communication, developing a rehabilitation programme, and reducing waiting times.

Stakeholder focus groups using the nominal group technique was a pivotal step in the development of our CPPS care pathway. This step led to fundamental recommendations, of which a personalised treatment plan at an earlier stage in the patient journey might be the most impactful. This is now implemented, and we monitor the effects on outcomes, quality of life and patient's satisfaction.