Mixed Methods Study of Patient and Primary Care Provider Perceptions of Chronic Pain Treatment.
Karen L Roper, Jarred Jones, Courtney Rowland and 2 others
PMID 32958306WHAT IT FOUND
Patients with chronic pain said they understood opioid risks and wanted function-focused conversations, while providers believed patients did not understand risks and thought pain reduction was the main goal.
Fear, stigma, and time limits shaped both sides.
Key findings
01Focus group participants understood opioid risks, including tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal, and wanted clearer expectations about what opioid therapy could achieve.
02On their questionnaires, participants rated physical, recreational, social activities, enjoyment of life, sleep, and family care as highly important, while hobbies and employment received the lowest ratings.
03In the provider survey, 69% believed patients were satisfied with chronic pain visits, while 31% were satisfied with their own ability to provide optimal care, and lack of time was the main barrier to using patient-reported assessments.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The focus group part included 11 patients from one academic family medicine practice, so it cannot show what most chronic pain patients think. Patients who could not read and speak English were excluded, and the sample was small and local. The provider survey had 32 of 284 invited members respond, a 11.3% response rate, so respondents may not represent other primary care providers. The survey was exploratory and was not pilot or psychometric tested. The study describes perceptions and communication experiences; it did not test whether tools, contracts, or provider communication changes improve care. Providers may have answered about patients they imagine, such as new opioid prescriptions, rather than the focus group patients.
Declared interests
The paper is listed as NIH extramural research support. The supplied text does not include a conflict of interest declaration or commercial funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the favorable comments about assessment tools as evidence that they improve chronic pain care. The study asked patients and providers about perceptions; it did not test whether using these tools changes treatment or outcomes.