Journal of Pain Research (May 2023)
Feasibility and Acceptability of the Pain Profile, a Clinical Questionnaire Aimed at Improving Pain Care
Abstract
Aleksandra Zarska,1 Stephanie Slat,1 Adrianne Kehne,1,2 Colin Macleod,1 Heather Rye,3 Cheryl Dehmlow,4 Paul Hilliard,5 Kaitlyn Jaffe,6 Pooja Lagisetty1,2 1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; 2Center for Clinical Management and Research, Ann Arbor Veterans Health Administration, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; 3University of Michigan Medical Group Care Management – Complex Care Management, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; 4Health Information Technology & Services, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; 5Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; 6Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USACorrespondence: Aleksandra Zarska, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, 2800 Plymouth Road, Building 16, Floor 4, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA, Tel +17186109960, Email [email protected]: Despite being one of the most common medical complaints, chronic pain is difficult to manage due to ineffective communication between providers and patients and time restraints during appointments. Patient-centered questionnaires have the potential to optimize communication by assessing a patient’s pain history, prior treatments, and associated comorbidities to develop an effective treatment plan. This study aimed to analyze the feasibility and acceptability of a pre-visit clinical questionnaire aimed at improving communication and pain care.Patients and Methods: The “Pain Profile” questionnaire was piloted across two specialty pain clinics in a large academic medical center. Patient and provider surveys were conducted with patients who completed the Pain Profile questionnaire and providers who use it in practice. Surveys consisted of multiple-choice and open-ended questions regarding the helpfulness, usability, and implementation of the questionnaire. Descriptive analyses of patient and provider surveys were conducted. Qualitative data were analyzed using matrix framework-based coding.Results: A total of 171 patients and 32 clinical providers completed the feasibility and acceptability surveys. 77% of patients (N= 131) found the Pain Profile helpful in communicating their pain experiences and 69% of providers (N= 22) found it helpful in guiding clinical decisions. The section that assessed the impact of pain was rated most helpful by patients (4/5) while the open-ended section asking patients to describe their pain history was rated least helpful by patients and providers (3.7/5 and 4.1/5, respectively). Both patients and providers provided suggestions to future iterations of the Pain Profile, including the addition of opioid risk and mental health screening tools.Conclusion: The Pain Profile questionnaire was feasible and acceptable in a pilot study at a large academic site. Future testing in a large-scale, fully powered trial is needed to assess the effectiveness of the Pain Profile in optimizing communication and pain management.Keywords: chronic pain, communication, clinical questionnaire, pain management, outpatient care
