Teaming In Interdisciplinary Chronic Pain Management Interventions In Primary Care: A Systematic Review Protocol

Abstract

\n BackgroundPatients with chronic cancer or non-cancer pain often struggle with physical, emotional, and psychological problems not easily addressed by a single clinician. Current pain management recommendations emphasize leveraging interdisciplinary teams. We aim to describe how we intend to identify key features of interdisciplinary team structures and processes associated with improved pain outcomes for patients experiencing chronic pain in primary care settings. Methods We will include randomized studies and systematic reviews of interventions involving teaming that address chronic or cancer-related pain. A systematic review of articles published in English and after 2009 in PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library will be conducted. The primary outcome will be a numeric, patient-reported pain score. Extracted data will include details about the team structures and processes used in the interdisciplinary interventions based in primary care. DiscussionThe intended systematic review will examine interventions that incorporate teamwork or teaming to manage chronic pain and will synthesize evidence as to which team structures and processes may help facilitate improved pain management, and thus improved pain outcomes. Results of this systematic review may help inform how to organize teams within primary care that will be most beneficial to chronic pain patients and highlight opportunities for future, high-quality randomized controlled trials exploring teaming models in primary care.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO #CRD42020191467