Empowering Patients, Enriching Outcomes: An Integrative and Occupational Approach to Addressing Chronic Pain in Primary Care

Abstract

Concept Paper<strong>Empowering Patients, Enriching Outcomes: An Integrative and Occupational Approach to Addressing Chronic Pain in Primary Care</strong>Kazandra Lopez Hernandez <sup>*</sup>, John V. Rider School of Occupational Therapy, Touro University Nevada, 874 American Pacific Dr., Henderson, NV, USA; E-Mails: <a href="mailto:kazandralopezhernandez@gmail.com">kazandralopezhernandez@gmail.com</a>; <a href="mailto:jrider@touro.edu">jrider@touro.edu</a>* <strong>Correspondence:</strong> Kazandra Lopez Hernandez; E-Mail: <a href="mailto:kazandralopezhernandez@gmail.com">kazandralopezhernandez@gmail.com</a> <strong>Academic Editor: </strong>Enrica Santarcangelo<strong>Special Issue</strong>: <a href="https://www.lidsen.com/journals/icm/icm-special-issues/occupational-therapy-interventions-treatment-pain">Occupational Therapy Interventions for the Treatment of Pain</a><em>OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine</em>2023, volume 8, issue 4 doi:10.21926/obm.icm.2304053<strong>Received:</strong> July 26, 2023<strong>Accepted:</strong> November 15, 2023<strong>Published:</strong> November 20, 2023AbstractChronic pain imposes significant personal and societal challenges. The concerning impact across all population levels has led to several federal agencies dedicating considerable efforts to developing clinically guiding recommendations to improve how chronic pain is addressed, specifically in primary care practice. These guidelines recognize and emphasize the importance of comprehensive evaluation, appropriate diagnosis, and treatment interventions that target multifactorial influences of pain for improved quality of life outcomes through function and participation in activities of daily living. Similarly, guideline recommendations encourage optimizing nonpharmacologic and non-opioid interventions and thorough risk assessment before initiating opioid treatment therapy. This paper proposes a clinical practice pathway demonstrating the integration of occupational therapy (OT) into primary care practice to address chronic pain through an interprofessional, collaborative, patient-centered approach that recognizes biopsychosocial components of chronic pain. Keywords Biopsychosocial; evaluation; occupational therapy; pain; primary care; treatment