title: Beliefs About a Complementary and Alternative Therapy-Based Chronic Pain Management Program for a Medicaid Population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rhode Island Medicaid offers high emergency department utilizers the opportunity to take part in the Chronic Pain Program, an integrated treatment approach that includes free complementary therapies (massage, chiropractic, and acupuncture). The aim of the current analysis was to understand beliefs about the Rhode Island Chronic Pain Program from the perspective of the patient receiving services, the provider delivering services, and the administrator implementing the program.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative interview-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (N = 24), providers (N = 13), and administrators (N = 11) who were already involved, or were eligible to be involved, in the Chronic Pain Program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semistructured interviews were conducted to elicit information about experiences with the program. Transcriptions of audio recordings were analyzed according to principles of deductive thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient interviews revealed five themes: 1) relationship between stress and pain, 2) trusting patient-provider relationships, 3) increased quality of life, 4) temporary pain relief, and 5) anxiety and discomfort associated with acupuncture. Provider interviews revealed three themes: 1) a way to reach the disenfranchised, 2) not enough visits with patients, and 3) opportunity to build relationships with patients. Administrator interviews revealed two themes: 1) a means to offer a range of support services to complicated patients and 2) unanswered questions over whether the program adequately serves patients with the greatest needs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Key stakeholders in this new initiative agree that the Rhode Island Chronic Pain Program shows promise and that the holistic approach may be a good match for this hard-to-reach population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Megan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ranney
authors.affiliation: The Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Emily J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Patry
authors.affiliation: The Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island.|Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Janette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baird
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical Center Injury Prevention Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.|Departments of Emergency Medicine and Epidemiology, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
authors.forename: Traci C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Green
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012237:Rhode Island; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Chronic Pain; Complementary Medicine; Pain Management