Table 3.

Coding framework with summative descriptions for each of the 9 pain care priority categories.

Category	Summative description
Category 1: Validating, acknowledging, and respecting each individual person's pain experience	Pain priorities reflect the need for health professionals to validate people's individual pain experiences, most notably acknowledging and believing what a person is telling them about their pain (including their symptoms, history, impact, and experiences); respecting their knowledge and lived experience and showing empathy.
Category 2: Communication styles and consultation spaces to ensure safe, respectful, and effective communication between health professionals and people living with chronic pain	Priorities focus on communication interactions between health professionals and people living with pain. Communication styles: People living with chronic pain and carers placed importance on health professionals: (1) Actively listening to hear their concerns; (2) learning from those living with chronic pain; and (3) responding appropriately to indicate their understanding of the impact of pain on the person. In discussing their chronic pain, people wanted health professionals to provide encouragement and hope where possible, give meaningful answers specific to their situation (using simple language), and to be honest with them if they don't have an answer or cannot provide a diagnosis or reason for the pain. Communication environments: People living with pain highlighted the importance of health professionals creating a safe consultation space for them to share opinions, ask questions, and discuss relevant information without judgement.
Category 3: Multidisciplinary team approach to pain care	Health professionals working together to effectively coordinate care and ensure people living with chronic pain receive the right treatment at the right time is the key priority within this category. This includes timely referrals to medical specialists and allied health professionals to support pain management and functional ability, as well as receiving appropriate support services for mental health.
Category 4: Holistic approach to pain care	People emphasised the importance of health professionals adopting a holistic and tailored care approach that incorporates physical, mental, occupational, social, spiritual, and intellectual needs, as well as other health issues when managing chronic pain. It was also highlighted that health professionals need to demonstrate greater understanding of the complex nature of chronic pain.
Category 5: Ensuring genuine partnership approaches in pain care	A genuine partnership approach between health professionals and people living with chronic pain when discussing available treatment options, developing an appropriate management plan, and subsequent monitoring was the overarching priority for this category. People stressed the need to consider contextual factors such as financial circumstances, geographic barriers, and individual experiences and preferences when discussing pain management options. People living with pain also emphasised the importance of management strategies that supported their independence and focused on their quality of life. Explanations of risks and benefits for both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments and flexibility with treatment and care plans, rather than a “one size fits all” approach were also considered important.
Category 6: Knowledge and experience of health professionals to support pain care	People highlighted the critical need for health professionals to be knowledgeable about different types of pain and to able to demonstrate an understanding of why pain can persist. Furthermore, people living with chronic pain advocated for health professionals to be willing to undertake research or consult more broadly across other health disciplines to better understand specific pain conditions, where required/appropriate.
Category 7: Supportive self-management	Key priorities focus on people with chronic pain being supported to self-manage their overall health. Support includes being directed to relevant evidence-based pain management resources (digital and nondigital); being provided with practical strategies applicable to day-to-day living; and being able to access patient support and advocacy groups.
Category 8: Safe use of medicines in pain care	Accessing medications without stigma; supporting people living with pain in their choice of medication based on their preferences and experience; and prescribing safe medications to assist active participation in day-to-day living were key priorities. Several people with chronic pain also advocated for autonomy to adjust medication dosages based on pain levels.
Category 9: Diagnosis/looking for a cause of pain	The priorities here focus on health professionals providing a clear outline of how a person's chronic pain will be investigated, as well as continuing to seek a diagnosis or reason for pain when tests or scans are inconclusive. People with chronic pain also highlighted the importance of health professionals looking for causes of pain without stigmatising people or being dismissive.