Specialized pain clinics in primary care: Common diagnoses, referral patterns and clinical outcomes – Novel pain management model

Yacov Fogelman, Eli Carmeli, Amir Minerbi, Baruch Harash, Simon Vulfsons

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

An estimated 19% of the adult population in western countries lives with chronic pain. Pain management lies mainly within the primary care and community setting. We evaluated the outcome of a new model of secondary care clinics, conducted by primary care physicians with specialized training in pain medicine. Data on referral patterns, prevalence of pain diagnosis, and medication consumption were recorded at five secondary pain management clinics in the community setting. In total, 997 patients with pain attended 2,652 visits (average 2.7 visits per patient) during 12 mo. Patients’ age ranged from 18 to 92 yr (mean 59 ± 19). Mean pain intensity on the first visit, evaluated by the visual analogue scale was 7.7/10. Myofascial pain syndrome was the most common diagnosis (82%). Treatment included dry needling or trigger point injection (82%), manual myofascial release (23%), and pharmacotherapy (38%). Significant short-term improvement after treatment was reported by 75% of patients, and 72% reported long-term improvement. Four percent were referred to tertiary care pain clinics, 5% were referred to other specialists, and 5% to imaging. Secondary, community-based pain clinics, run by specially-trained primary physicians, demonstrated feasibility. The vast majority of patients referred to the clinics were treated using simple, inexpensive modalities, while sparing referrals to unnecessary consultation visits, imaging tests, and medications.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
PublisherSpringer New York LLC
Pages89-98
Number of pages10
DOIs
StatePublished - 2018

Publication series

NameAdvances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
Volume1047
ISSN (Print)0065-2598
ISSN (Electronic)2214-8019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, Springer International Publishing AG.

Keywords

  • Myofascial pain syndrome
  • Pain
  • Primary care physician
  • Secondary pain management

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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