Computerized Decision Support Tool for Pain Management in Primary Care

Pain Management in Primary Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Computerized Decision Support Tool

Chronic pain is highly prevalent, compromises quality of life, and increases care utilization. Primary care providers are challenged to provide effective treatments, use opioid therapy appropriately, and address the adverse consequences of pain. Technology-enabled decision support tools may provide a means to improve pain management in primary care.

The objective of this study was to evaluate a novel electronic health record (EHR)-based decision support tool-plus-education intervention for pain management in primary care.

This randomized, wait-list controlled trial evaluated a novel EHR-based system for pain management among patients with chronic pain in six practices of a Federally Qualified Health Center network in New York.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Treated at the Institute for Family Health
2. Spoke English or Spanish
3. Received one or more prescriptions for an opioid or nonopioid analgesic during the past three months
4. Pain screening at the prior three office visits documented scores >3 on the 0-6 scale (FACES, Hicks et al., 2001).
5. Willingness to complete questionnaires three times
6. A commitment to return to the practice
7. Reachable by phone
8. No evidence of psychopathology or cognitive impairment severe enough to prevent informed consent or completing the survey instruments

Exclusion Criteria:

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