Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40360869›Full record

ArticleJournal of general internal medicine2025

Providers' Role in Building Patient Buy-In for Treating Chronic Pain and PTSD: Veterans' Perspectives on Interactions with Providers.

Nicole L Johnson, Jennifer Van Tiem, Kenda Stewart Steffensmeier, Suzanne Akuley, Daniel Ball, Emily B K Thomas, Michelle Mengeling, Sonya Norman, Alessandra A Pratt, Mary A Driscoll and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of general internal medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Nicole L JohnsonCenter for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA. Nicole.johnson7@va.gov.ORCID 0000-0001-5686-2062
Jennifer Van TiemCenter for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Kenda Stewart SteffensmeierCenter for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Suzanne AkuleyPain Research, Informatics, Multimorbidities, and Education (PRIME) Center, VA Connecticut Health Care System, West Haven, CT, USA.
Daniel BallCenter for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Emily B K ThomasCenter for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Michelle MengelingCenter for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Sonya NormanNational Center for PTSD, White River Junction, VT, USA.
Alessandra A PrattCenter for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Mary A DriscollPain Research, Informatics, Multimorbidities, and Education (PRIME) Center, VA Connecticut Health Care System, West Haven, CT, USA.
Lauren A GarvinDepartment of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Kimberly J HartDepartment of Psychiatry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Katherine HadlandsmythCenter for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA.

Funding

Office of Rural Health 03857
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPatients with co-occurring chronic pain and PTSD are especially vulnerable to debilitating symptoms and frustrating experiences seeking healthcare. The complicated nature of the health conditions and their treatments present a challenge for providers to communicate their treatment recommendations and rationale.

objectiveThis qualitative study explored Veterans' views on communication with their providers during clinical visits related to their chronic pain and PTSD treatments, so that we may understand their experiences and identify opportunities to improve clinical communication and patient satisfaction.

designSemi-structured interviews with the interview guide finalized based on feedback from a Veteran engagement panel.

participantsVeterans diagnosed with chronic pain and PTSD who receive care from Veterans Health Administration. APPROACH: Inductive thematic analysis to characterize how Veterans describe interactions with providers treating their chronic pain and PTSD. KEY

resultsProviders' communication influences Veterans' perceptions in three ways: (a) when Veterans expressed satisfaction with their provider, they described their gratitude for learning about their options; (b) when Veterans expressed dissatisfaction, it often represented a lack of mutual understanding or knowledge of the provider's rationale; and (c) inaccurate information on electronic medical records perpetuated a distrustful environment.

conclusionsBreakdowns occur when Veterans are unsure of their providers' rationale and our data underscore the importance of clear communication in establishing trust and optimizing care for Veterans with PTSD and chronic pain. As the interplay between chronic pain and PTSD symptoms takes centerstage in clinical innovations, providers must consider how best to educate their patients and explain their rationale for recommendations. Trauma-informed strategies may be especially valuable for delivering care to an inordinately vulnerable population.

Indexed as

Chronic PainPatient SatisfactionPhysician-Patient RelationsStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticVeteransAdultAgedCommunicationFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchUnited Statesbuy-inmental healthpatient educationperson-centered communicationtrauma-informed care

Identifiers

PMID40360869
PMCPMC12686296

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.