Background & Aims

Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is a major contributor to disability and presents significant challenges for both patients and medical providers [1]. It is optimally managed with conservative modalities, non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic approaches. There is a global paradigm shift to include multi-modal integrative medicine in MSK treatment guidelines as an alternative to traditional pharmacological therapies, partly driven by the significant side effect burden of drug therapies. These integrative strategies aim to harness the body’s self-healing ability to provide drug free pain relief [2]. However, Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) and patients typically lack a baseline knowledge on self-healing techniques. This study aimed to identify gaps in understanding of the self-healing concept, and to examine underlying attitudes and beliefs in order to help determine if there are educational opportunities for HCPs and patients.

Methods

An international cross-sectional survey was administered online to HCPs (N=398) who manage MSK pain and patients (N=1805) who experienced this pain within the past 12 months across the U.S., Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, and China. The survey questions included, but were not limited to, sociodemographic characteristics, their experiences with MSK pain, their general beliefs about pain, their attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions regarding specific treatment modalities, and opinions/attitudes regarding self-healing before and after exposure to a self-healing concept/infographic. Repeated-measures analysis compared the responses to key variables pre- and post-concept exposure and linear regression analysis identified the driving factors.

Results

Patients and HCPs both demonstrated trust in over the counter (OTC) drugs and non-drug pain relief options. Patients preferred accessible OTC options, while HCPs recommended personalized treatments. Pre-concept exposure, patients demonstrated a preference for drug free therapies, recognizing the limitations of pain medications. HCPs showed moderate confidence in alternative treatment approaches. They recognized the importance of early intervention using integrative medicine to prevent pain from becoming chronic. HCPs were also cognizant of the patient-related barriers such as time, cost, and effort required to adhere to integrative care. Both groups showed lower confidence in less commonly used alternative therapies. Post-concept exposure, there was a positive shift in patients and HCPs beliefs in drug-free MSK pain management. Patients showed openness to a broader range of alternatives, while HCPs acceptance slightly increased in holistic self-healing modalities such as acupuncture, infra-red therapy, etc.

Conclusions

Patients and HCPs both exhibited a heightened interest in self-healing techniques for MSK pain management following post-concept exposure. Patients showed willingness to consider a wider variety of non-pharmacological options, while HCPs demonstrated a greater endorsement of the patient-centred care that emphasizes importance of empowering patients to tap into their body’s innate ability to heal and achieve long-term health benefits. This exercise fostered greater confidence in the efficacy of non-pharmacological pain management strategies and provided an opportunity for evidence-based self-healing therapies to have positive therapeutic impact.

References

1. El-Tallawy SN, et a. Pain Ther. 2021;10(1):181-209.
2. McSwan J, et al. J Pain Res. 2021;14:2943-2958.

Presenting Author

Gisele Pickering

Poster Authors

Gisele Pickering

MD, PhD, PharmD

Platform of Clinical Investigation, Clermont-Ferrand Cedex, France

Lead Author

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Joyce McSwan

GCPHN Persistent Pain Program, PainWISE, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia

Lead Author

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Ali Mobasheri

Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland

Lead Author

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Jeffrey Gudin

Department of Anesthesiology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

Lead Author

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Mohamed Amessou

Sanofi, Neuilly, France

Lead Author

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Beata Cywi?ska-Durczak

Sanofi, Warsaw, Poland

Lead Author

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Sara Chokshi

Sanofi, New Jersey, USA

Lead Author

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Neil Betteridge

Neil Betteridge Associates, London, UK

Lead Author

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Perola Grinberg Plapler

Division of Physical Medicine, Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, São Paulo, Brazil

Lead Author

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Topics

  • Education