What type of service provision do patients with chronic pain want from primary care providers?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore what types of service provision patients with chronic pain wanted from their general practitioners (GP). A small scale survey measured anxiety and depression and quantified the extent to which patients wanted four different types of help from their GP (explanation and understanding, medical treatment, psychological support and information). An opportunistic sample of 155 patients (30.3% male and 69.7% female) was recruited from three general practice surgeries in the northwest region of Northern Ireland. Ninety-one participants self-reported chronic pain and there were 64 in the no pain group. Even after statistically controlling for anxiety and depression, individuals in the chronic pain group had a greater need for emotional/psychological support and explanation and understanding from their GPs. There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to the need for more information or medical treatment. A biopsychosocial approach should be employed in the management of chronic pain, however as this study shows, some primary care patients are still being treated within a biomedical framework. To address the unmet needs of this patient population, there is a need for clinical guidelines in the management of chronic pain in primary care settings. Limitations of the present research, with recommendations for future study are offered.