Patient-provider interactions in the management of chronic pain: current findings within the context of shared medical decision making.
OBJECTIVE
This article reviews the literature on patient-provider interactions among patients with chronic pain conditions with an emphasis on shared medical decision making.


RESULTS
Key findings suggest that: 1) patients with chronic pain and health care providers are likely to have opposing attitudes and goals, with patients seeking "to be understood as individuals" and struggling to have their pain concerns legitimized while their health care providers may place a greater focus on diagnosis and treatment than quality of life concerns; and 2) female patients may face additional challenges when communicating their pain concerns with providers. Increased emphasis on communication training and efforts to promote a shared decision making process are proposed as possible mechanisms to improve patient-provider interactions.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of chronic pain is often complex and may be further complicated when patients and health care providers have differing goals and attitudes concerning treatment. Difficulties in engaging in collaborative treatment decision making may result. Efforts to enhance patient-provider communication as well as to systematically examine nonspecific treatment factors are likely to promote effective management of chronic pain.
Frantsve
Lisa Maria E
LM
Psychology Service, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Yale University School of Medicine, West Haven, Connecticut 06516, USA. lisa.frantsve@med.va.gov
Kerns
Robert D
RD
D002908:Chronic Disease; D003142:Communication; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059408:Pain Management; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012737:Sex Factors