Living with chronic pain: Evaluating patient experiences with a medical group visit focused on mindfulness and non-pharmacological strategies
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Kelly D. McCue; Lance D. Laird; Anna Sophia Lestoquoy; Paula Gardiner; Katherine Gergen-Barnett; Racquel Enad; Suzanne Mitchell; N. Lily Negash
- Source
- Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 35:33-38
- Subject
- Adult
Male
Complementary and Manual Therapy
medicine.medical_specialty
Mindfulness
Mindfulness-based stress reduction
Appointments and Schedules
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Patient satisfaction
Adaptation, Psychological
medicine
Humans
030212 general & internal medicine
Psychiatry
Poverty
Minority Groups
Advanced and Specialized Nursing
Depressive Disorder
Integrative Medicine
Depression
business.industry
Racial Groups
Chronic pain
Middle Aged
medicine.disease
Focus group
Low back pain
Meditation
Treatment Outcome
Social Isolation
Complementary and alternative medicine
Patient Satisfaction
Personal Autonomy
Community health
Female
Integrative medicine
Chronic Pain
medicine.symptom
business
Delivery of Health Care
Low Back Pain
030217 neurology & neurosurgery
- Language
- ISSN
- 0965-2299
Objectives Little is known about the acceptance of non-pharmacological group strategies delivered to low income racially diverse patients with chronic pain and depression. This paper examines how the Integrative Medical Group Visit (IMGV) addresses many of the deficits identified with usual care. Design and setting Six IMGVs cohorts were held at a safety net hospital and two federally funded community health centres. Data was gathered through focus groups. Transcripts were analysed using both a priori codes and inductive coding. Intervention The intervention included ten sessions of Integrative Medical Group Visits with a primary care provider and a meditation instructor. The curriculum uses principles of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and evidence based integrative medicine. The visit is structured similarly to other group medical visits. Main outcome measures Data was gathered through four focus groups held after the cohorts were completed. Results Participants (N = 20) were largely low income minority adults with chronic pain and comorbid depression. Six themes emerged from the coding including: chronic pain is isolating; group treatment contributes to better coping with pain; loss of control and autonomy because of the unpredictability of pain as well as dependence on medication and frequent medical appointments; groups improve agency and control over one’s health condition; navigating the healthcare system and unsatisfactory treatment options; and changes after the IMGV due to non-pharmacological health management. Conclusions The IMGV is a promising format of delivering integrative care for chronic pain and depression which addresses many of the problems identified by patients in usual care.