Use of Non-Pharmacological Pain Treatment Modalities Among Veterans with Chronic Pain: Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey

Treatment Goals and Preferences of Black Veterans with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

Understanding patient goals and preferences is critical in the context of complex conditions such as chronic pain. This need may be especially pronounced for Black patients, who experience significant health and healthcare disparities. The primary aim of this study was to describe the treatment goals and preferences of Black veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain who were enrolled in the intervention arm of a randomized controlled trial testing a coaching intervention. In the coaching sessions, participants (n = 106) identified their most important pain-related treatment goals and preferences. Participants' top treatment goals were to improve physical functioning (61%), increase engagement in valued activities (45%), and reduce pain intensity (37%). Most participants (73%) preferred non-pharmacological treatments (eg, physical therapy, exercise, acupuncture, yoga). The 17% of participants who identified medications as a preferred treatment demonstrated higher levels of depression and anxiety compared to those who did not. Approximately 42% and 21% of participants stated a preference to avoid pharmacological and surgical pain treatments, respectively. Black patients with chronic pain prioritize improving physical functioning and pain intensity in service of increasing their engagement in exercise, work, relationships, and leisure activities. Also, in the current study, patients expressed a clear preference for non-pharmacological pain treatments. Future research should investigate ways to improve communication of goals and preferences with providers and facilitate access to non-pharmacological treatments for Black patients with chronic pain. PERSPECTIVE: This article describes the treatment goals and preferences of Black veterans with chronic pain. Most patients prioritized goals to improve physical functioning, pain severity, and participation in valued activities. Patients primarily preferred non-pharmacological treatments. This emphasizes the need for clear communication with Black patients regarding pain-related goals and non-pharmacological treatment options.

Nonpharmacological pain management approaches among U.S. construction workers: A cross-sectional pilot study

BACKGROUND

U.S. construction workers experience high rates of injury that can lead to chronic pain. This pilot study examined nonpharmacological (without medication prescribed by healthcare provider) and pharmacological (e.g., prescription opioids) pain management approaches used by construction workers.

METHODS

A convenience sample of U.S. construction workers was surveyed, in partnership with the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Construction Sector Program. Differences in familiarity and use of nonpharmacological and pharmacological pain management approaches, by demographics, were assessed using logistic regression models. A boosted regression tree model examined the most influential factors related to pharmacological pain management use, and potential reductions in use were counterfactually modeled.

RESULTS

Of 166 (85%) of 195 participants reporting pain/discomfort in the last year, 72% reported using pharmacological pain management approaches, including 19% using opioids. There were significant differences in familiarity with nonpharmacological approaches by gender, education, work experience, and job title. Among 37 factors that predicted using pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain management approaches, training on the risks of opioids, job benefits for unpaid leave and paid disability, and familiarity with music therapy, meditation or mindful breathing, and body scans were among the most important predictors of potentially reducing use of pharmacological approaches. Providing these nonpharmacological approaches to workers could result in an estimated 23% (95% CI: 16%-30%) reduction in pharmacological pain management approaches.

CONCLUSION

This pilot study suggests specific factors related to training, job benefits, and worker familiarity with nonpharmacological pain management approaches influence use of these approaches.

A Systematic Review of Chronic Pain Management Interventions Among Veterans of Recent Wars and Armed Conflicts

OBJECTIVES

To identify chronic pain management strategies aimed to reduce pain intensity and enhance functional outcomes in veterans of wars and armed conflict.

DESIGN

Systematic review without meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

Key words "chronic pain," "veterans," and "injuries" were used to search for articles in the MEDLINE, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, and Embase databases. Articles published in English between 2000 and 2023 were included.

REVIEW/ANALYSIS METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted in June 2020, updated in April 2023, and managed using Covidence review software. Inclusion criteria focused on combat-injured veterans with chronic pain, excluding nonveterans and civilians treated for acute or chronic pain. Data from included studies were extracted, summarized, and critically appraised using the 2018 Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. This review is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020207435).

RESULTS

Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria, with 10 of them supporting nonpharmacological approaches for managing chronic pain among veterans of armed conflicts and wars. Interventions included psychological/behavioral therapies, peer support, biofeedback training via telephone-based therapy, manual therapy, yoga, cognitive processing therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and social and community integration to reduce pain intensity and enhance functional outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Nonpharmacological treatments for chronic pain have increased in recent years, a shift from earlier reliance on pharmacological treatments. More evidence from randomized controlled trials on the benefits of combined pain interventions could improve pain management of veterans with complex care needs.

Engagement in Integrative and Nonpharmacologic Pain Management Modalities Among Adults with Chronic Pain: Analysis of the 2019 National Health Interview Survey

Objective

To examine variables associated with engagement in (1) integrative health and medicine (IHM) and (2) nonpharmacologic modalities rather than opioids among United States adults with chronic pain.

Methods

Using the 2019 National Health Interview Survey, we examined sociodemographic, pain, and mental health predictors of (1) the sum of IHM modalities (ie, chiropractic care, yoga/Tai Chi, massage, or meditation/guided imagery) used to manage pain and (2) exclusive engagement in nonpharmacologic pain management modalities (ie, IHM, a chronic pain self-management program, support groups, or physical, rehabilitative, occupational, or talk therapy) or opioids in the past 3 months.

Results

Metropolitan residency, higher family income, higher education levels, increased number of pain locations, and increased frequency of pain limiting life/work activities were associated with increased odds of IHM engagement. Older age, male sex, non-Hispanic Black/African American race/ethnicity, and daily opioid use were associated with decreased odds of IHM engagement. Older age, male sex, and increased depressive symptoms were associated with decreases in the count of IHM modalities used to manage pain. Metropolitan residency, higher family income, and higher education levels were associated with increased odds of exclusive nonpharmacologic modality engagement. Older age and increasing frequency of pain limiting life/work activities were associated with decreased odds of exclusive nonpharmacologic modality engagement.

Conclusions

We identified several contrasts between factors prevalent among individuals with chronic pain and factors associated with engagement in nonpharmacologic and IHM modalities. These results support efforts to address barriers to accessing these modalities among subpopulations of adults with chronic pain (eg, older adults, individuals identifying as Black/African American, rural residents, and those with lower levels of education and income).

Self-Reported Pain Treatment Practices Among U.S. and Canadian Adults: Findings From a Population Survey

Background and Objectives

Pain treatments and their efficacy have been studied extensively. Yet surprisingly little is known about the types of treatments, and combinations of treatments, that community-dwelling adults use to manage pain, as well as how treatment types are associated with individual characteristics and national-level context. To fill this gap, we evaluated self-reported pain treatment types among community-dwelling adults in the United States and Canada. We also assessed how treatment types correlate with individuals' pain levels, sociodemographic characteristics, and country of residence, and identified unique clusters of adults in terms of treatment combinations.

Research Design and Methods

We used the 2020 "Recovery and Resilience" United States-Canada general online survey with 2 041 U.S. and 2 072 Canadian community-dwelling adults. Respondents selected up to 10 pain treatment options including medication, physical therapy, exercise, etc., and an open-ended item was available for self-report of any additional treatments. Data were analyzed using descriptive, regression-based, and latent class analyses.

Results

Over-the-counter (OTC) medication was reported most frequently (by 55% of respondents, 95% CI 53%-56%), followed by "just living with pain" (41%, 95% CI 40%-43%) and exercise (40%, 95% CI 38%-41%). The modal response (29%) to the open-ended item was cannabis use. Pain was the most salient correlate, predicting a greater frequency of all pain treatments. Country differences were generally small; a notable exception was alcohol use, which was reported twice as often among U.S. versus Canadian adults. Individuals were grouped into 5 distinct clusters: 2 groups relied predominantly on medication (prescription or OTC), another favored exercise and other self-care approaches, one included adults "just living with" pain, and the cluster with the highest pain levels employed all modalities heavily.

Discussion and Implications

Our findings provide new insights into recent pain treatment strategies among North American adults and identify population subgroups with potentially unmet need for more adaptive and effective pain management.

Differences in chronic pain care receipt among veterans from differing racialized groups and the impact of rural versus urban residence

PURPOSE

The current study aimed to identify differences in Veterans Affairs (VA) chronic pain care for Black, Asian, and Hispanic Americans, compared to non-Hispanic White Americans, and examine the intersection of race and rurality.

METHODS

Using national administrative data, all veterans who presented to the VA for chronic pain in 2018 were included. Demographic and comorbidity variables were built from 2018 data and health care utilization variables from 2019 data. Multivariate log-binomial regression models examined differences between racialized groups, and interactions with rural/urban residence, for each health care utilization variable.

FINDINGS

The full cohort included 2,135,216 veterans with chronic pain. There were no differences between racialized groups in pain-related primary care visits. Black Americans were less likely to receive pain clinic visits (aRR = 0.87, CI: 0.86-0.88). Rurality further decreased the likelihood of Black Americans visiting a pain clinic. Black, Hispanic, and Asian Americans were more likely to receive pain-related physical therapy visits relative to White Americans. Black and Hispanic Americans were more likely to present to emergency/urgent care for chronic pain. While there were no differences in pain-related primary care visits, the decreased likelihood of pain clinic visits and increased use of emergency department/urgent care among Black Americans could indicate inadequate management of chronic pain.

CONCLUSIONS

Tailored strategies are needed to provide equitable care that meets the needs of patients from racialized groups while accounting for systemic and cultural factors.

"Frustrated with the whole system": a qualitative framework analysis of the issues faced by people accessing health services for chronic pain

BACKGROUND

Chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) is complex and often requires multimodal management comprising of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. To inform delivery of CNCP management, it is important to understand how current health services providing non-pharmacological treatments are accessed by exploring the experiences of people attempting to access services. In doing so, this study sought to explore the underlying drivers of service access barriers.

METHODS

This study explored the experiences of Australians accessing services for CNCP using semi-structured telephone interviews undertaken between 01 October 2020 and 31 March 2021. Thematic analysis was guided by Levesque et al.'s 2013 conceptual framework of access to health care, with emerging themes mapped to five dimensions of accessibility and corresponding abilities of consumers: Approachability/Ability to perceive; Acceptability/Ability to seek; Availability and Accommodation/Ability to reach; Affordability/Ability to pay; and Appropriateness/Ability to engage.

RESULTS

The 26 participants (aged 24-78 years, 22 female) reported accessing a range of services including general practitioners (GP), allied health services, and specialised pain clinics, for a variety of conditions. Three themes were mapped to accessibility dimensions (in brackets): 'GP as guide or gatekeeper' (Approachability); 'Outside of my control' (Availability and Accommodation; Affordability); and 'Services aren't always good enough' (Appropriateness). A fourth identified theme illustrated how participants responded to encountering these barriers: 'Leading my own pain management'. Participant experiences suggest problems with the translation of contemporary pain management principles into practice, including continued application of biomedical health models as opposed to the biopsychosocial model, and demonstrate systemic issues with service delivery, including a lack of benchmarking of specialised services.

CONCLUSIONS

The identified themes highlight several evidence-to-practice gaps in the delivery of health services for people with CNCP in Australia. To address these gaps, there is a need for improved clinician training, increased investment in specialised pain services, and development of clear primary care pathways for CNCP management for evidence-based multimodal pain management to be accessible and equitable.

Non-pharmacological Treatment for Chronic Pain in US Veterans Treated Within the Veterans Health Administration: Implications for Expansion in US Healthcare Systems

BACKGROUND

Consensus guidelines recommend multimodal chronic pain treatment with increased use of non-pharmacological treatment modalities (NPM), including as first-line therapies. However, with many barriers to NPM uptake in US healthcare systems, NPM use may vary across medical care settings. Military veterans are disproportionately affected by chronic pain. Many veterans receive treatment through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), an integrated healthcare system in which specific policies promote NPM use.

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether veterans with chronic pain who utilize VHA healthcare were more likely to use NPM than veterans who do not utilize VHA healthcare.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional nationally representative study.

PARTICIPANTS

US military veterans (N = 2,836).

MAIN MEASURES

In the 2019 National Health Interview Survey, veterans were assessed for VHA treatment, chronic pain (i.e., past 3-month daily or almost daily pain), symptoms of depression and anxiety, substance use, and NPM (i.e., physical therapy, chiropractic/spinal manipulation, massage, psychotherapy, educational class/workshop, peer support groups, or yoga/tai chi).

KEY RESULTS

Chronic pain (45.2% vs. 26.8%) and NPM use (49.8% vs. 39.4%) were more prevalent among VHA patients than non-VHA veterans. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, psychiatric symptoms, physical health indicators, and use of cigarettes or prescription opioids, VHA patients were more likely than non-VHA veterans to use any NPM (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.07-2.16) and multimodal NPM (aOR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.12-2.87) than no NPM. Among veterans with chronic pain, VHA patients were more likely to use chiropractic care (aOR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.12-3.22), educational class/workshop (aOR = 3.02, 95% CI = 1.35-6.73), or psychotherapy (aOR = 4.28, 95% CI = 1.69-10.87).

CONCLUSIONS

Among veterans with chronic pain, past-year VHA use was associated with greater likelihood of receiving NPM. These findings may suggest that the VHA is an important resource and possible facilitator of NPM. VHA policies may offer guidance for expanding use of NPM in other integrated US healthcare systems.

Association Between Exposure to Complementary and Integrative Therapies and Opioid Analgesic Daily Dose Among Patients on Long-term Opioid Therapy

OBJECTIVES

To describe the association between exposure to selected complementary and integrative health (CIH) modalities and the trajectory of prescribed opioid analgesic dose within a national cohort of patients receiving long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using national data from VHA electronic health records between October 1, 2017 and September 30, 2019, CIH use was analyzed among 57,437 patients receiving LTOT within 18 VHA facilities serving as evaluation sites of VHA's Whole Health System of Care. Using linear mixed effects modeling controlling for covariates, opioid dose was modeled as a function of time, CIH exposure, and their interaction.

RESULTS

Overall, 11.91% of patients on LTOT used any of the focus CIH therapies; 43.25% of those had 4 or more encounters. Patients used acupuncture, chiropractic care, and meditation modalities primarily. CIH use was associated with being female, Black, having a mental health diagnosis, obesity, pain intensity, and baseline morphine-equivalent daily dose. Mean baseline morphine-equivalent daily dose was 40.81 milligrams and dose decreased on average over time. Controlling for covariates, patients with any CIH exposure experienced 38% faster dose tapering, corresponding to a mean difference in 12-month reduction over patients not engaging in CIH of 2.88 milligrams or 7.06% of the mean starting dose.

DISCUSSION

Results support the role of CIH modalities in opioid tapering. The study design precludes inference about the causal effects of CIH on tapering. Analyses did not consider the trend in opioid dose before cohort entry nor the use of other nonopioid treatments for pain. Future research should address these questions and consider tapering-associated adverse events.

Care Outcomes for Chiropractic Outpatient Veterans (COCOV): a qualitative study with veteran stakeholders from a pilot trial of multimodal chiropractic care

BACKGROUND

Low back pain (LBP) is common among military veterans seeking treatment in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare facilities. As chiropractic services within VA expand, well-designed pragmatic trials and implementation studies are needed to assess clinical effectiveness and program uptake. This study evaluated veteran stakeholder perceptions of the feasibility and acceptability of care delivery and research processes in a pilot trial of multimodal chiropractic care for chronic LBP.

METHODS

The qualitative study was completed within a mixed-method, single-arm, pragmatic, pilot clinical trial of chiropractic care for LBP conducted in VA chiropractic clinics. Study coordinators completed semi-structured, in person or telephone interviews with veterans near the end of the 10-week trial. Interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative content analysis using a directed approach explored salient themes related to trial implementation and delivery of chiropractic services.

RESULTS

Of 40 participants, 24 completed interviews (60% response; 67% male gender; mean age 51.7 years). Overall, participants considered the trial protocol and procedures feasible and reported that the chiropractic care and recruitment methods were acceptable. Findings were organized into 4 domains, 10 themes, and 21 subthemes. Chiropractic service delivery domain encompassed 3 themes/8 subthemes: scheduling process (limited clinic hours, scheduling future appointments, attendance barriers); treatment frequency (treatment sufficient for LBP complaint, more/less frequent treatments); and chiropractic clinic considerations (hire more chiropractors, including female chiropractors; chiropractic clinic environment; patient-centered treatment visits). Outcome measures domain comprised 3 themes/4 subthemes: questionnaire burden (low burden vs. time-consuming or repetitive); relevance (items relevant for LBP study); and timing and individualization of measures (questionnaire timing relative to symptoms, personalized approach to outcomes measures). The online data collection domain included 2 themes/4 subthemes: user concerns (little difficulty vs. form challenges, required computer skills); and technology issues (computer/internet access, junk mail). Clinical trial planning domain included 2 themes/5 subthemes: participant recruitment (altruistic service by veterans, awareness of chiropractic availability, financial compensation); and communication methods (preferences, potential barriers).

CONCLUSIONS

This qualitative study highlighted veteran stakeholders' perceptions of VA-based chiropractic services and offered important suggestions for conducting a full-scale, veteran-focused, randomized trial of multimodal chiropractic care for chronic LBP in this clinical setting.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03254719.

Impacts on patient-centered outcomes of a chronic pain self-management program in a rural community: A feasibility study

This study explored if a self-management training program was feasible for a predominantly older rural Latino adults with chronic pain who had limited access to non-pharmacologically based pain treatment. Physical therapy doctoral students delivered the six-week low-literacy low-cost patient-centered program. The intervention was feasible to the participants (n=38) who showed improvement in a majority of the eight outcome measures at 6-week posttest and three measures at 18-week followup. The changes in pain severity, pain interference and pain-related physical functions reached minimally clinically important difference at follow-up. A randomized controlled trial with long-term follow-up is needed to test the program effectiveness in partnership with community health centers to increase access to pain management in rural communities.

Comparative Effectiveness of Embedded Mental Health Services in Pain Management Clinics vs Standard Care

OBJECTIVE

Embedded behavioral medicine services are a common component of multidisciplinary chronic pain treatment programs. However, few studies have studied whether these services are associated with improved treatment outcomes.

METHODS

Using a retrospective, matched, two-cohort study design, we examined patient-reported outcomes (PROs), including Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System pain, mental health, and physical function measures, collected at every clinic visit in every patient. Changes from baseline through 12 months were compared in those receiving embedded Behavioral Medicine in addition to usual care to a Standard Care group seen in the same pain practice and weighted via propensity scoring.

RESULTS

At baseline, Behavioral Medicine patients had worse scores on most pain, mental health, and physical health measures and were more likely to be female, a member of a racial minority, and have lower socioeconomic status. Regardless of having a worse clinical pain syndrome at baseline, at follow-up both Behavioral Medicine (N = 451) and Standard Care patients (N = 8,383) showed significant and comparable improvements in pain intensity, physical function, depression, and sleep disturbance. Behavioral Medicine patients showed significantly greater improvements in their global impressions of change than the Standard Care patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite worse pain and physical and psychological functioning at baseline, Behavioral Medicine patients showed improvements comparable to patients not receiving these services. Further, Behavioral Medicine patients report higher global impressions of change, indicating that embedded mental health services appear to have the additive value of amplifying the benefits of multimodal pain care.

A Comparison of the Effect of Visual and Auditory Distractions on Physiological Indicators and Pain of Burn Dressing Change Among 6-12-Year-Oldchildren: A Clinical Trial Study

POURPOSE

This study aimed to compare the effect of audiovisual distraction on physiological indicators and pain of burn dressing change among 6-12 year-old children.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The study was a single-blind clinical trial with a three-group that sample size was 120 children aged 6-12 years admitted to the burn ward of Hamadan Besat Hospital. Data collection tools were the Oucher pain scale, a Cheklist form of the physiological Indicators, and apulse oximetry device. The cartoons were shown for visual group and the melodic poems were played for the auditory group 2 min before the dressing until the end of the procedure (at 2-min intervals). Data were analyzed by SPSS-16 software one-way, variance analysis and post-hoc Bonferroni test.

RESULTS

Therewere statistically significant differences between visual, auditory and control groups in the mean pain intensity scores at all measurement times, the mean arterial blood oxygen saturation percentage at all measurement times except for the10 min before the dressing and the start of the procedure and the mean heart rate at all measurement times except for 10 min before dressing (p < 0.001). Post-hoc tests showed that the difference in the mean heart rate was related to the difference between the visual and auditory distraction groups during and at the end of the dressing (p < 0.05), the visual and control groups at all measurement times (P < 0.001) and the auditory and control groups at all measurement times (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Audiovisual distraction is effective in reducing the fluctuations of physiological indicators and the burn dressing pain intensity in children at all times of measurement, especially during changedressing.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The findings of this study are relevant to clinical practice because they suggest preparing children before and during a burning procedure situation.

Identifying Predictors of Recommendations for and Participation in Multimodal Nonpharmacological Treatments for Chronic Pain Using Patient-Reported Outcomes and Electronic Medical Records

OBJECTIVE

High-quality chronic pain care emphasizes multimodal treatments that include medication and nonpharmacological treatments. But it is not clear which patients will participate in nonpharmacological treatments, such as physical therapy or mental health care, and previous research has shown conflicting evidence.

METHODS

We used the Patient Outcomes Repository for Treatment (PORT) registry, which combines patient-reported outcomes data with electronic medical records. In this retrospective observational study, we performed two separate multinomial regression analyses with feature selection to identify PORT variables that were predictive of 1) recommendation of a nonpharmacological treatment by the provider and 2) patient participation in nonpharmacological treatments. Two hundred thirty-six patients were recommended (REC) or not recommended (NO REC) a nonpharmacological treatment, and all REC patients were classified as participating (YES) or not participating (NO) in the recommendations.

RESULTS

Female gender and a diagnosis of Z79 "Opioid drug therapy" were significant positive and negative predictors of nonpharmacological treatment recommendations, respectively. Schedule II opioid use at initial presentation and recommendations for rehabilitation therapy were significant predictors of nonparticipation.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients using opioids are less likely to be recommended nonpharmacological treatments as part of multimodal chronic pain care and are less likely to participate in nonpharmacological treatments once recommended. Males are also less likely to be recommended nonpharmacological treatments. Patients referred for rehabilitation therapies are less likely to comply with those recommendations. We have identified patients in vulnerable subgroups who may require additional resources and/or encouragement to comply with multimodal chronic pain treatment recommendations.

Complementary and Integrated Health Approaches: What Do Veterans Use and Want

OBJECTIVES

Non-pharmacological treatment options for common conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety, and depression are being given increased consideration in healthcare, especially given the recent emphasis to address the opioid crisis. One set of non-pharmacological treatment options are evidence-based complementary and integrative health (CIH) approaches, such as yoga, acupuncture, and meditation. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the nation's largest healthcare system, has been at the forefront of implementing CIH approaches, given their patients' high prevalence of pain, anxiety, and depression. We aimed to conduct the first national survey of veterans' interest in and use of CIH approaches.

METHODS

Using a large national convenience sample of veterans who regularly use the VHA, we conducted the first national survey of veterans' interest in, frequency of and reasons for use of, and satisfaction with 26 CIH approaches (n = 3346, 37% response rate) in July 2017.

RESULTS

In the past year, 52% used any CIH approach, with 44% using massage therapy, 37% using chiropractic, 34% using mindfulness, 24% using other meditation, and 25% using yoga. For nine CIH approaches, pain and stress reduction/relaxation were the two most frequent reasons veterans gave for using them. Overall, 84% said they were interested in trying/learning more about at least one CIH approach, with about half being interested in six individual CIH approaches (e.g., massage therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, acupressure, reflexology, and progressive relaxation). Veterans appeared to be much more likely to use each CIH approach outside the VHA vs. within the VHA.

CONCLUSIONS

Veterans report relatively high past-year use of CIH approaches and many more report interest in CIH approaches. To address this gap between patients' level of interest in and use of CIH approaches, primary care providers might want to discuss evidence-based CIH options to their patients for relevant health conditions, given most CIH approaches are safe.

Patterns of conventional and complementary non-pharmacological health practice use by US military veterans: a cross-sectional latent class analysis

BACKGROUND

Non-pharmacological therapies and practices are commonly used for both health maintenance and management of chronic disease. Patterns and reasons for use of health practices may identify clinically meaningful subgroups of users. The objectives of this study were to identify classes of self-reported use of conventional and complementary non-pharmacological health practices using latent class analysis and estimate associations of participant characteristics with class membership.

METHODS

A mailed survey (October 2015 to September 2016) of Minnesota National Guard Veterans from a longitudinal cohort (n = 1850) assessed current pain, self-reported overall health, mental health, substance use, personality traits, and health practice use. We developed the Health Practices Inventory, a self-report instrument assessing use of 19 common conventional and complementary non-pharmacological health-related practices. Latent class analysis was used to identify subgroups of health practice users, based on responses to the HPI. Participants were assigned to their maximum-likelihood class, which was used as the outcome in multinomial logistic regression to examine associations of participant characteristics with latent class membership.

RESULTS

Half of the sample used non-pharmacological health practices. Six classes of users were identified. "Low use" (50%) had low rates of health practice use. "Exercise" (23%) had high exercise use. "Psychotherapy" (6%) had high use of psychotherapy and support groups. "Manual therapies" (12%) had high use of chiropractic, physical therapy, and massage. "Mindfulness" (5%) had high use of mindfulness and relaxation practice. "Multimodal" (4%) had high use of most practices. Use of manual therapies (chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy, massage) was associated with chronic pain and female sex. Characteristics that predict use patterns varied by class. Use of self-directed practices (e.g., aerobic exercise, yoga) was associated with the personality trait of absorption (openness to experience). Use of psychotherapy was associated with higher rates of psychological distress.

CONCLUSIONS

These observed patterns of use of non-pharmacological health practices show that functionally similar practices are being used together and suggest a meaningful classification of health practices based on self-directed/active and practitioner-delivered. Notably, there is considerable overlap in users of complementary and conventional practices.