Using implementation mapping to select implementation strategies for Skills TO Manage Pain (STOMP), a pain self-management intervention tailored to people with HIV

Individuals living with HIV often experience chronic pain, which contributes to diminished physical and mental health. Skills TO Manage Pain (STOMP), a pain self-management intervention tailored for individuals with HIV, has demonstrated immediate and sustained efficacy at reducing pain and strengthening pain self-efficacy. Evaluating STOMP's effectiveness in real-world settings remains a critical next step in advancing its implementation.

This article describes how we used implementation mapping to develop strategies aimed at strengthening the delivery and long-term sustainability of STOMP in HIV care settings.

Through semi-structured interviews with 17 key informants, we identified several barriers to and facilitators of STOMP implementation. Examples included patients potentially feeling their pain is being invalidated because they are being offered a behavioral rather than biomedical intervention; however, STOMP was also an adaptable, evidence-based CBT intervention that people may perceive as a better option than opioids for pain management. We also held a community engagement studio in which key informants provided insights on how to promote equitable implementation of STOMP in HIV clinics.

Using a rigorous theory-based approach, we selected ten strategies to reduce barriers and strengthen facilitators for STOMP implementation in HIV care settings. This process involved qualitative interviews and a focus group with key informants, including people with lived experience. Implementation mapping appears to be a promising approach to bolster uptake of evidence-based interventions like STOMP. In our future research, we will evaluate both our implementation strategies and the effectiveness of STOMP for improving health in people with HIV and chronic pain.