Living with chronic pain: Evaluating patient experiences with a medical group visit focused on mindfulness and non-pharmacological strategies.
Anna Sophia Lestoquoy, Lance D Laird, Suzanne H. Mitchell, Katherine Gergen-Barnett, N Lily Negash, Kelly McCue, Racquel Enad, Paula Gardiner
Complementary Therapies in Medicine December 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2017.09.002 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 20 |
| Population | Largely low-income minority adults with chronic pain and comorbid depression attending a safety net hospital and two federally funded community health centres |
| Intervention | Integrative Medical Group Visits |
| Duration | Ten sessions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Chronic pain Group medical visits Integrative medicine Shared medical appointments |
| Key findings | Participants described chronic pain as isolating and reported that pain's unpredictability, medication dependence, and frequent appointments reduced their sense of control, while the group visits improved coping and agency over their health. The authors argue the Integrative Medical Group Visit is a promising format for delivering integrative care for chronic pain and depression that addresses problems patients identified with usual care. |
Abstract
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. 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. 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. Data was gathered through four focus groups held after the cohorts were completed. 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. 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.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on meditation, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 3
- Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica April 28, 2011
- Listening to Their Words: A Qualitative Analysis of Integrative Medicine Group Visits in an Urban Underserved Medical Setting. Pain Medicine June 2016
- Effects of mindfulness meditation on chronic pain: a randomized controlled trial. Pain Medicine April 2015