Rethinking pain: a paradigm shift in primary care for chronic pain via community-based, culturally-responsive GP...

Area of Science:

• General Practice
• Pain Management
• Primary Care Research

Background:

• Chronic pain management in general practice is complex, often resulting in over-investigation and overprescribing.
• There's an underutilization of holistic and non-medical support for chronic pain patients.
• General Practitioners (GPs) require enhanced support to manage chronic pain effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how GPs can be better supported in identifying chronic pain early.
• To enable GPs to make clinically appropriate, non-overmedicalized decisions.
• To empower GPs to confidently signpost patients to appropriate non-medical pain support.

Main Methods:

• Exploration of a cross-sector initiative, 'Rethinking Pain in Bradford'.
• Analysis of GP education and demedicalised, person-centered pain support models.
• Argument for a paradigm shift in primary care for chronic pain management.

Main Results:

• A shift in GP mindset and confidence, rather than more time, is key.
• Effective and holistic GP intervention can reduce repeated consultations.
• The model shows potential to break cycles of high-frequency GP use for chronic pain.

Conclusions:

• Empowering GPs with tools, training, and networks improves holistic chronic pain navigation.
• This approach can reduce harm and improve patient outcomes in chronic pain care.
• Aligning primary care with sustainable pain management strategies is achievable.