TY - JOUR
T1 - Complex regional pain syndrome
T2 - A comprehensive qualitative research study on unmet needs in the “patient journey”
AU - Raja, Srinivasa N.
AU - Buvanendran, Asokumar
AU - Marcondes, Lizandra
N1 - Funding Information:
Medical writing support, under the guidance of the authors, was provided by Sohita Dhillon PhD and David P. Figgitt PhD, ISMPP CMPP™, Content Ed Net, with funding from Grünenthal.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Raja et al.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Purpose: This qualitative research study aimed to characterize the “patient journey” for patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and identify the unmet needs related to the management and treatment of the condition for healthcare providers (HCPs), patients, and their caregivers. Materials and Methods: Multifaceted, dynamic methodology, iteratively gathering cognitive, emotional and social insights, was used to support and conduct in-depth, immersion interviews across the USA with 59 HCPs in-office and in roundtable discussions, and 20 patient-support partner dyads in-home. Results: Patients were aged >18 years, primarily female, and all were diagnosed with CRPS (limited to type 1 in this patient cohort). Results show that the current state of CRPS treatment may fall short in multiple key areas. In some cases, poor awareness of CRPS causes delayed diagnoses impacting the opportunity for early treatment, resulting in long-term poor health outcomes. Consequently, the CRPS “patient journey” may be characterized by clinical frustration of physicians and disappointment for some patients. The poor treatment experiences and outcomes for some patients and HCPs may build the perception of a non-collaborative relationship. HCPs and patients agree that an effective treatment would be one that addresses CRPS rather than its symptoms, and the availability of such an option would transform the treatment experience. Conclusion: CRPS leads to cognitive, social and emotional burdens for patients and their caregivers. There is an unmet need for improved CRPS disease awareness and successful therapeutic options to aid in earlier diagnoses, effective treatment and better outcomes for HCPs, patients, and their caregivers.
AB - Purpose: This qualitative research study aimed to characterize the “patient journey” for patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and identify the unmet needs related to the management and treatment of the condition for healthcare providers (HCPs), patients, and their caregivers. Materials and Methods: Multifaceted, dynamic methodology, iteratively gathering cognitive, emotional and social insights, was used to support and conduct in-depth, immersion interviews across the USA with 59 HCPs in-office and in roundtable discussions, and 20 patient-support partner dyads in-home. Results: Patients were aged >18 years, primarily female, and all were diagnosed with CRPS (limited to type 1 in this patient cohort). Results show that the current state of CRPS treatment may fall short in multiple key areas. In some cases, poor awareness of CRPS causes delayed diagnoses impacting the opportunity for early treatment, resulting in long-term poor health outcomes. Consequently, the CRPS “patient journey” may be characterized by clinical frustration of physicians and disappointment for some patients. The poor treatment experiences and outcomes for some patients and HCPs may build the perception of a non-collaborative relationship. HCPs and patients agree that an effective treatment would be one that addresses CRPS rather than its symptoms, and the availability of such an option would transform the treatment experience. Conclusion: CRPS leads to cognitive, social and emotional burdens for patients and their caregivers. There is an unmet need for improved CRPS disease awareness and successful therapeutic options to aid in earlier diagnoses, effective treatment and better outcomes for HCPs, patients, and their caregivers.
KW - CRPS
KW - Complex regional pain syndrome
KW - Pain
KW - Patient journey
KW - Qualitative
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U2 - 10.2147/JPR.S317648
DO - 10.2147/JPR.S317648
M3 - Article
C2 - 34408484
AN - SCOPUS:85121526223
SN - 1178-7090
VL - 14
SP - 2391
EP - 2401
JO - Journal of Pain Research
JF - Journal of Pain Research
ER -