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. 2023 May 11;16:1559–1571. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S402354

Table 5.

Patient and Provider Suggestions on Future Improvements to the Pain Profile

Patients N (%) Qualitative Feedback
Comfortable Answering Questions on Other Topicsa
[I would like to have the option to] . . . rank in order which treatments you would like to try with 1 being your first choice and 10+ being your least favorite choice – Patient

[I would like to see additional questions on] history of addiction in self or family. I feel like this question would help answer why some patients avoid pain medications – Patient
 Experience with Prescribed Opioids 136 (79.5)
 Substance Use Disorders 137 (80.1)
 Mental Health 139 (81.3)
Providers N (%) Qualitative Feedback
Improvements to Access and Usability


[Adding a] flag or badge [in the EMR] to indicate it has been completed that does not require specifically searching for the Pain Profile would be helpful. – Provider







If the primary complaint is pain related, it should be the first tab to open up in a patient’s [EMR] chart. – Provider







I think it is helpful but could use some further enhancements. [Proposed additions could] include the duration of use for individuals taking chronic opioids; information about mental health history, substance use history, PTSD and adverse childhood event screening tools, and family history of pain/addiction. – Provider
 Different location within EMR 7 (21.9)
 Shorter questionnaire 3 (9.4)
 Clinical decision aid to guide management 2 (6.3)
 Automated short summary of responses 1 (3.1)
Proposed Additions to the Pain Profile
 Depression/anxiety screener 29 (90.6)
 Opioid misuse screener 19 (59.4)
 Other psychological health measures 12 (37.5)
 Information on access barriers 10 (31.3)
 Information on addiction experience 8 (25)
 None of these 3 (9.4)
 Other 3 (9.4)
Interest in Notification, Yes 11 (34.4)
Interest in Decision Aid, Yes 17 (53.1)
Type of Decision Aid Content
 Non-pharmacologic treatment and referral resources 13 (40.6)
 Suggesting pharmacologic treatments 12 (37.5)
 Summarizing treatment history 9 (28.1)
 Summarizing pain regions 7 (21.9)
 Other 2 (6.3)

Notes: aScale 1–5 (1 = “least comfortable;” 5 = “most comfortable”). Not comfortable: 1|2|3’, comfortable: 4|5’.