Utilizing Primary Care to Engage Underserved Patients in a Psychological Intervention for Chronic Pain
Recommended Citation
Miller-Matero LR, Hecht LM, Gavrilova L, Haage B, Autio K, Tobin ET, and Ahmedani BK. Utilizing primary care to engage underserved patients in a psychological intervention for chronic pain. Prim Health Care Res Dev 2024; 25:e54.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-25-2024
Publication Title
Prim Health Care Res Dev
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although psychological interventions can be used to improve chronic pain management, underserved individuals (i.e., racially minoritized and socioeconomically disadvantaged) may be less likely to engage in such services. The purpose of this study was to examine whether offering a psychological intervention for chronic pain in a primary care clinic could be a method in which to successfully engage underserved patients.
METHODS: There were 220 patients with chronic pain in a primary care clinic located in a socioeconomically and racially diverse city who were approached to discuss enrolment in a pilot randomized controlled trial of a five-session psychological intervention for chronic pain. Patients were introduced to the study by their primary care provider using the warm handoff model. We compared whether there were sociodemographic differences between those who enrolled in the study and those who declined to enrol.
RESULTS: There were no differences between those who enrolled and those who declined enrolment with regard to race, age, insurance type, and household income. However, females were more likely to enrol in the study compared to males.
CONCLUSIONS: Recruiting patients to participate in a trial of a psychological intervention for chronic pain in a primary care clinic appeared to be effective for engaging Black patients, patients with lower income, and those with government insurance. Thus, offering a psychological intervention for chronic pain in a primary care clinic may encourage engagement among racially minoritized individuals and those with lower socioeconomic status.
Medical Subject Headings
Humans; Male; Female; Chronic Pain; Primary Health Care; Middle Aged; Adult; Vulnerable Populations; Pilot Projects; Aged; Psychosocial Intervention; Pain Management
PubMed ID
39450755
Volume
25
First Page
54
Last Page
54
