Doctors’ Insights into the Patient Perspective: A Qualitative Study in the Field of Chronic Pain

Abstract

Purpose.To strengthen the conceptualization of the patient perspective by identifying aspects that, from doctors’ point of view, are important to address during a consultation to build a partnership with patients.Method.Semistructured interviews were conducted with 17 doctors who are experts in the field of chronic pain in Italy. The recordings of the interviews were transcribed verbatim and interpreted using thematic analysis.Results.The participants agreed about the importance of doctors addressing aspects of the patient perspective that can lead to a difference of opinion with patients, namely, patients’ views about their health condition (i.e., what they think they have and why and the perceived impact of the health condition on their life) and about treatments (i.e., what they have tried or have heard about and their expectations).Conclusions.Identifying patients’ standpoints on their health condition and treatments offers an opportunity for critical discussion of differences of opinions and promotes communication exchange and agreement about the appropriate course of action.