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A structured IMGV facilitator training program remarkably improves clinicians' confidence in delivering non-pharmacologic chronic pain management.
As the opioid crisis continues to drive hundreds of deaths each day, expanding access to potent non-pharmacologic pain management has become a healthcare priority. A new study shows that a structured Integrative Medicine Group Visit (IMGV) facilitator training program can equip frontline clinicians with the skills and confidence to deliver evidence-based mind-body therapies for chronic musculoskeletal pain in safety-net healthcare settings.
Researchers designed and evaluated a 40-hour IMGV facilitator training program for clinical staff within the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (LAC DHS). The curriculum combined online learning modules, case-based discussions, and hands-on workshops, preparing volunteers to lead group visits that integrate acupuncture, meditation, tai chi, yoga, and acupressure into chronic pain care.
The prospective pre-post cohort study enrolled 59 healthcare professionals from three LAC DHS medical centers and affiliated clinics in 2020. Changes in confidence were measured via the Self-Efficacy in Using Non-Drug Therapies for Common Symptoms (SEND) scale, while feasibility and acceptability were assessed through course completion rates, participant evaluations, and semi-structured interviews.
Nearly half of the volunteers (49%) completed the training. Physicians accounted for 37% of trainees, followed by rehabilitation therapists (22%), while 80% of participants were women. Interestingly, non-physicians were 28% more likely than physicians to complete the final examination (P = 0.040). The program elicited a substantial improvement in participants' confidence to teach non-drug pain management strategies. SEND scores elevated by 20.9 points after training (P < 0.001), highlighting a noticeable gain in self-efficacy for delivering and teaching integrative pain management techniques.
Participants rated the curriculum highly, particularly the hands-on tai chi and acupressure sessions, which were viewed as the most valuable components. They also suggested making the online modules more flexible to reduce the time burden. Although COVID-19-related disruptions impacted course progression and completion, the training remained both practical and well-accepted. Hence, an IMGV facilitator training program can successfully build workforce capacity for integrative chronic pain management in safety-net health systems. By boosting clinicians' confidence to deliver evidence-based, non-drug therapies, the program offers a scalable strategy to broaden access to holistic pain care and minimize reliance on opioid-based treatment.
Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health
Implementing an Integrative Medicine Group Visit Facilitator Training Program to Improve Chronic Pain Management in the Safety-Net
Emiley Chang et al.
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