Person-centered care for musculoskeletal pain: Putting principles into practice

• Published in: Musculoskeletal science & practice Vol. 62; no. NA; p. 102663
• Main Authors: Hutting, Nathan, Caneiro, J.P., Ong'wen, Otieno Martin, Miciak, Maxi, Roberts, Lisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2022
• Subjects: Communication; Humans; Musculoskeletal conditions; Musculoskeletal Pain - therapy; Patient-Centered Care; Person-centered care; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Self-management; Shared decision making; Therapeutic relationship; Self-management; Shared decision making; Therapeutic relationship; Person-centered care; Patient-centered care; Musculoskeletal conditions
• ISSN: 2468-7812; 2468-8630; 2468-7812
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msksp.2022.102663

Person-centered care specifically focuses on the whole person and is an important component of contemporary care for people with musculoskeletal pain conditions. Evidence suggests however, that some clinicians experience difficulties with integrating person-centered care principles into their clinical practice. Therefore, the purpose of this masterclass is to provide a framework that enables clinicians to incorporate person-centered principles in their management of people with musculoskeletal pain conditions. To support clinicians in overcoming some of the reported obstacles, we provide practical recommendations aimed at putting principles of person-centered care into practice. The framework supporting clinicians' delivery of person-centered care in practice consists of three key-principles: A) a biopsychosocial understanding of the person's experience; B) person-focused communication; and C) supported self-management. The framework includes three phases: 1) identification and goal setting, 2) coaching to self-management, and 3) evaluation. Building a therapeutic relationship underpins these phases and is an overarching element that weaves through the key-principles and phases of the framework. We use a clinical case to illustrate the practical implementation of these recommendations. •Person-centered care is important for people with musculoskeletal pain conditions.•A framework supporting clinicians' delivery of person-centered care is presented.•This includes identification & goal setting, coaching to self-management, and evaluation.•The therapeutic relationship is an overarching element of the framework.•A clinical case illustrates the practical implementation of the framework.