Patient Perspectives on Communication with Primary Care Physicians about Chronic Low Back Pain
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVES: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a common health problem with challenges for providing satisfactory care. This study was undertaken to identify opportunities to improve key aspects of physicians' communications with CLBP-affected patients. METHODS: A series of 3 focus groups, each with 7 to 11 patients with CLBP, were recruited from primary care settings and grouped by risk level of reduced function resulting from back pain, to elicit perspectives about interactions with their primary care physicians. Analysis of focus group transcripts used an iterative process based on a thematic approach and a priori concepts. RESULTS: A total of 28 patients participated in the focus groups. Patient comments about communicating with physicians around CLBP fit into themes of listening and empathy, validating pain experiences, conducting effective CLBP assessment, providing clear diagnosis and information, and collaboratively working on treatment. Patients shared that physicians can foster positive interactions with CLBP-affected patients by sharing personal experiences of chronic pain, being truthful about not having all the answers and being clear about how patients can benefit from referrals, reviewing the patient's previous treatments before beginning conversations about treatment options, providing follow-up instructions, giving patients a diagnosis beyond "chronic pain," and explaining the role of imaging in their care. CONCLUSION: This study provides specific steps that physicians in the US can take to improve physician-patient interactions during primary care visits pertaining to CLBP. The findings could inform physician training, development of educational materials for patients, and future research.
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Patients with CLBP often express a desire for physician interactions that involve listening and showing empathy.
“In particular, patients with CLBP often express a desire for physician interactions that involve listening and showing empathy in such various ways as getting to know them, understanding how pain affects their lives, and not feeling rushed through their office visits [33].”
From The process and outcomes of chronic low back pain treatment provided by osteopathic and allopathic physicians: a retrospective cohort study (2023) · cites this paper as [33]
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- Authors
- Evers, S., Hsu, C., Sherman, K. J., Balderson, B., Hawkes, R., Brewer, G., La Porte, A.-M., Yeoman, J., & Cherkin, D.
- Affiliations
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (US)
- Research Associate at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute and a Psychologist for Kaiser Permanente Washington-Behavioral Health in Seattle..
- Patient Partner at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle..
- Venue
- The Permanente Journal
- Publisher
- The Permanente Federation
- Published
- 2017-12
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 16-177
- ISSN
- 1552-5767 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-5775
- PMC
- PMC5638625
- OpenAlex
- W2764105578
- Cited by
- 27
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 6
- FWCI
- 3.99
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- The Permanente Journal (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (R21AT007326)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Empathy and Medical Education
- Keywords
- chronic low back pain, physician-patient communication, primary care, patient perspectives, empathy, chronic pain diagnosis, referral, treatment decision-making, physician training
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Attitude of Health Personnel, Communication, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Patients, United States, Patient Satisfaction, Low Back Pain, Focus Groups, Physicians, Primary Care, Chronic Pain
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