Paula Gardiner|Danielle Dresner|Katherine Gergen Barnett|Ekaterina Sadikova|Robert Saper
Medical Group Visits: A Feasibility Study to Manage Patients with Chronic Pain in an Underserved Urban Clinic
Boston Medical Center|Boston Medical Center|Boston Medical Center|Boston Medical Center|Boston Medical Center
chronic pain affects millions racially diverse americans evidence suggests group medical visits effective treating chronic pain similarly number studies demonstrate effectiveness certain evidencebased complementary therapies managing painthe primary goal study evaluate feasibility integrative medical group visit imgv care model innercity racially diverse outpatient clinic imgv combines patientcentered nonpharmacologic strategies principles mindfulnessbased stressreduction group medical visit reduce pain associated symptomswe surveyed patients pre post 8session imgv program evaluate changes pain last week 010 point scale comorbid symptoms including depression patient health questionaire8 phq8 perceived stress sleep quality also recorded referrals program patients screened eligibility total enrollment loss followup attendanceseventy patients joined imgv 65 93 enrolled study course 12 months 7 groups met median 9 patientsgroup range 813 participants mean difference pain level patients baseline 8 weeks 07 sd20 p005 mean difference phq8 depression score patients baseline score 5 26 sd46 p001 statistically significant improvements also seen sleep quality perceived stressa group visits program combining conventional integrative medicine predominantly racially diverse patients feasible