2022
Mental Health Diagnoses are Not Associated With Indicators of Lower Quality Pain Care in Electronic Health Records of a National Sample of Veterans Treated in Veterans Health Administration Primary Care Settings
Dobscha SK, Luther SL, Kerns RD, Finch DK, Goulet JL, Brandt CA, Skanderson M, Bathulapalli H, Fodeh SJ, Hahm B, Bouayad L, Lee A, Han L. Mental Health Diagnoses are Not Associated With Indicators of Lower Quality Pain Care in Electronic Health Records of a National Sample of Veterans Treated in Veterans Health Administration Primary Care Settings. Journal Of Pain 2022, 24: 273-281. PMID: 36167230, PMCID: PMC9898089, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2022.08.009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsChronic PainElectronic Health RecordsHumansMental HealthPrimary Health CareQuality of Health CareRetrospective StudiesUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsVeteransVeterans HealthConceptsPain care qualityQuality pain careMental health conditionsPrimary care cliniciansVeterans Health AdministrationPain carePCQ scoresHealth conditionsCare cliniciansUse disordersCare qualitySevere musculoskeletal painRetrospective cohort studyPrimary care visitsGeneral medical carePrimary care settingElectronic health record dataFinal adjusted modelMental health diagnosesEquation Poisson modelsHealth record dataBipolar disorder diagnosisSubstance use disordersAlcohol use disorderPost-traumatic stress disorder
2021
Measuring pain care quality in the Veterans Health Administration primary care setting
Luther SL, Finch DK, Bouayad L, McCart J, Han L, Dobscha SK, Skanderson M, Fodeh SJ, Hahm B, Lee A, Goulet JL, Brandt CA, Kerns RD. Measuring pain care quality in the Veterans Health Administration primary care setting. Pain 2021, 163: e715-e724. PMID: 34724683, PMCID: PMC8920945, DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002477.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsHumansPainPrimary Health CareQuality of Health CareReproducibility of ResultsUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsVeteransVeterans HealthConceptsPain care qualityPattern of documentationSevere pain intensityFrequency of documentationPresence of painSite of painPrimary care providersPrimary care settingCare quality indicatorsQuality improvement initiativesTotal PCQ scoresPatient characteristicsPain intensityPain carePain impactPCQ scoresCare settingsCare providersMusculoskeletal disordersFurther evaluationPainCare qualityHealthcare facilitiesImprovement initiativesUnique visitsMilitary sexual trauma and suicidal ideation in VHA-care-seeking OEF/OIF/OND veterans without mental health diagnosis or treatment
Decker SE, Ramsey CM, Ronzitti S, Kerns RD, Driscoll MA, Dziura J, Skanderson M, Bathulapalli H, Brandt CA, Haskell SG, Goulet JL. Military sexual trauma and suicidal ideation in VHA-care-seeking OEF/OIF/OND veterans without mental health diagnosis or treatment. Psychiatry Research 2021, 303: 114089. PMID: 34247061, DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114089.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsFemaleHumansIraq War, 2003-2011MaleMental HealthMilitary PersonnelSex OffensesSexual TraumaStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticSuicidal IdeationUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsVeteransVeterans HealthConceptsMental health diagnosesMilitary sexual traumaVeterans Healthcare AdministrationSuicidal ideationHealth diagnosisSexual traumaRelative risk estimatesOEF/OIF/OND veteransSample of veteransPost-9/11 veteransSuicide risk factorsMental health concernsClinical remindersRisk factorsRelative riskHigh riskMen veteransMental healthcareHealth concernRisk estimatesMST survivorsWomenDiagnosisTraumaVeteransDevelopment and Implementation of the Military Treatment Facility Engagement Committee (MTFEC) to Support Pragmatic Clinical Trials in the Military Health System
Scarton DV, Roddy WT, Taylor JA, Geda M, Brandt CA, Peduzzi P, Kerns RD, Pasquina PF. Development and Implementation of the Military Treatment Facility Engagement Committee (MTFEC) to Support Pragmatic Clinical Trials in the Military Health System. Military Medicine 2021, 186: 70-75. PMID: 33499543, PMCID: PMC7980475, DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usaa368.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsChronic PainHumansMilitary Health ServicesPain ManagementUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsVeteransConceptsPain Management CollaboratoryPragmatic clinical trialsMilitary treatment facilitiesHealth care systemPain managementClinical trialsDOD health care systemVA health care systemCare systemChronic pain managementService membersTraumatic brain injuryMilitary Health SystemMilitary service membersChronic painNonpharmacological approachesBrain injuryLimb lossClinical practiceHealth systemCoordinating CenterTrialsVA programsNational InstituteDepartment of Defense
2020
NIH-DOD-VA Pain Management Collaboratory: Pragmatic Clinical Trials of Nonpharmacological Approaches for Management of Pain and Co-occurring Conditions in Veteran and Military Health Systems: Introduction
Kerns RD, Brandt CA. NIH-DOD-VA Pain Management Collaboratory: Pragmatic Clinical Trials of Nonpharmacological Approaches for Management of Pain and Co-occurring Conditions in Veteran and Military Health Systems: Introduction. Pain Medicine 2020, 21: s1-s4. PMID: 33313722, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnaa358.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsHumansMilitary Health ServicesPainPain ManagementUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsVeteransAdapting to disruption of research during the COVID-19 pandemic while testing nonpharmacological approaches to pain management
Coleman BC, Kean J, Brandt CA, Peduzzi P, Kerns RD, . Adapting to disruption of research during the COVID-19 pandemic while testing nonpharmacological approaches to pain management. Translational Behavioral Medicine 2020, 10: 827-834. PMID: 32885815, PMCID: PMC7499692, DOI: 10.1093/tbm/ibaa074.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsBetacoronavirusChronic PainCommunicable Disease ControlCoronavirus InfectionsCOVID-19HumansMental HealthNational Institutes of Health (U.S.)Pain ManagementPandemicsPatient SelectionPneumonia, ViralResearchSARS-CoV-2Socioeconomic FactorsUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsConceptsPain Management CollaboratoryPragmatic clinical trialsChronic painCOVID-19 pandemicUrgent public health challengePain management interventionsClinical care teamPatient-reported measuresPublic health challengeVeterans Health SystemCOVID-19Pain managementNonpharmacological approachesStudy protocolClinical trialsCare teamIntervention deliveryHealth departmentsHealth outcomesHealth challengesHealth systemStudy designMental healthDisruption of researchParticipant recruitmentNeuropsychological assessments and psychotherapeutic services in Veterans with multiple sclerosis: Rates of utilization and their associations with socio-demographics and clinical characteristics using Veterans Health Administration-based data
Gromisch ES, Kulas JF, Altalib H, Kerns RD, Mattocks KM, Brandt CA, Haskell S. Neuropsychological assessments and psychotherapeutic services in Veterans with multiple sclerosis: Rates of utilization and their associations with socio-demographics and clinical characteristics using Veterans Health Administration-based data. Multiple Sclerosis And Related Disorders 2020, 43: 102220. PMID: 32480347, DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2020.102220.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAfghanistanCohort StudiesFemaleHumansMultiple SclerosisUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsVeteransVeterans HealthConceptsVeterans Health AdministrationCo-occurring conditionsMultiple sclerosisWomen Veterans Cohort StudyService utilizationClinical characteristicsMood disordersService useHealth AdministrationVHA Corporate Data WarehouseNeuropsychological assessmentAlcohol-related disordersTraumatic brain injuryMental health servicesPsychotherapeutic servicesCorporate Data WarehouseRace/ethnicityCohort studyDiagnosis dateBrain injuryComprehensive careSleep disordersInitial appointmentSubsequent logistic regressionCognitive disorders“Asking Is Never Bad, I Would Venture on That”: Patients’ Perspectives on Routine Pain Screening in VA Primary Care
Giannitrapani KF, Haverfield MC, Lo NK, McCaa MD, Timko C, Dobscha SK, Kerns RD, Lorenz KA. “Asking Is Never Bad, I Would Venture on That”: Patients’ Perspectives on Routine Pain Screening in VA Primary Care. Pain Medicine 2020, 21: 2163-2171. PMID: 32142132, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnaa016.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPainPain ManagementPrimary Health CareQualitative ResearchUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsVeteransConceptsPain screeningPrimary carePatient's perspectiveVA health care systemPain management strategiesVA primary careVeterans Health AdministrationMental health concernsHealth care systemRoutine carePatient recallPatients' perceptionsPatient recommendationsPainRoutine painHealth AdministrationHealth concernCare systemMental distressCarePatientsPsychological painScreeningTheme 1Theme 2
2019
NIH-DoD-VA Pain Management Collaboratory
Kerns RD, Brandt CA, Peduzzi P. NIH-DoD-VA Pain Management Collaboratory. Pain Medicine 2019, 20: 2336-2345. PMID: 31807788, PMCID: PMC6895460, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnz186.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCore Outcome Measures for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Research: Recommendations from a Veterans Health Administration Work Group
Kroenke K, Krebs EE, Turk D, Von Korff M, Bair MJ, Allen KD, Sandbrink F, Cheville AL, DeBar L, Lorenz KA, Kerns RD. Core Outcome Measures for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Research: Recommendations from a Veterans Health Administration Work Group. Pain Medicine 2019, 20: 1500-1508. PMID: 30615172, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pny279.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnxietyBiomedical ResearchChronic PainDelphi TechniqueDepressionHumansMusculoskeletal PainOutcome Assessment, Health CarePain ManagementPain MeasurementPatient Health QuestionnairePatient Reported Outcome MeasuresPhysical Functional PerformancePsychometricsSleepUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsConceptsCore Outcome MeasuresOutcome measuresPain intensityPatient-reported global impressionBrief Pain Inventory Interference ScaleChronic musculoskeletal pain disordersMusculoskeletal pain disordersChronic musculoskeletal painPatient Health QuestionnaireNumerical rating scaleVeterans Health AdministrationCommon outcome measuresGeneralized anxiety disorderMusculoskeletal painPain disordersChronic painGlobal ImpressionPhysical functionHealth QuestionnairePhysical functioningSleep ScaleDepression ScaleOutcomes Information SystemPain researchHealth Administration
2018
Testing implementation facilitation of a primary care-based collaborative care clinical program using a hybrid type III interrupted time series design: a study protocol
Midboe AM, Martino S, Krein SL, Frank JW, Painter JT, Chandler M, Schroeder A, Fenton BT, Troszak L, Erhardt T, Kerns RD, Becker WC. Testing implementation facilitation of a primary care-based collaborative care clinical program using a hybrid type III interrupted time series design: a study protocol. Implementation Science 2018, 13: 145. PMID: 30486877, PMCID: PMC6262952, DOI: 10.1186/s13012-018-0838-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnalgesics, OpioidCooperative BehaviorEvidence-Based PracticeHumansImplementation ScienceInservice TrainingInterrupted Time Series AnalysisPain ManagementPractice Patterns, Physicians'Primary Health CareProgram EvaluationResearch DesignUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsWork EngagementConceptsCollaborative care interventionVeterans Health AdministrationImplementation facilitationPrimary careCare interventionsHigh-dose opioid therapyMorphine equivalent daily doseVHA health care systemClinical programsImplementation facilitation strategyOutpatient opioid prescriptionsOpioid prescribing practicesPain management servicesCollaborative care programEquivalent daily dosePrimary care clinicsPrimary care providersRE-AIM frameworkInterrupted time seriesOpioid overdose crisisHealth care systemInterrupted time series designEligible patientsMedication taperingOpioid therapyUnderstanding Pain and Pain Treatment for Veterans: Responding to the Federal Pain Research Strategy
Bastian LA, Heapy A, Becker WC, Sandbrink F, Atkins D, Kerns RD. Understanding Pain and Pain Treatment for Veterans: Responding to the Federal Pain Research Strategy. Pain Medicine 2018, 19: s1-s4. PMID: 30203012, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pny143.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBiomedical ResearchHumansPainPain ManagementUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsVeteransVeterans HealthOpioid Use Among Veterans of Recent Wars Receiving Veterans Affairs Chiropractic Care
Lisi AJ, Corcoran KL, DeRycke EC, Bastian LA, Becker WC, Edmond SN, Goertz CM, Goulet JL, Haskell SG, Higgins DM, Kawecki T, Kerns RD, Mattocks K, Ramsey C, Ruser CB, Brandt CA. Opioid Use Among Veterans of Recent Wars Receiving Veterans Affairs Chiropractic Care. Pain Medicine 2018, 19: s54-s60. PMID: 30203014, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pny114.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAfghan Campaign 2001-Analgesics, OpioidCross-Sectional StudiesDrug PrescriptionsFemaleHumansIraq War, 2003-2011MaleManipulation, ChiropracticMiddle AgedOpioid-Related DisordersUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsVeteransConceptsOEF/OIF/OND veteransOpioid prescriptionsChiropractic visitsOpioid useChiropractic careOperations Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom/New DawnMore opioid prescriptionsVA chiropractic servicesPercentage of veteransCross-sectional analysisOpioid receiptClinic visitsClinical characteristicsCurrent smokingSevere painChiropractic clinicChiropractic servicesVisitsHigher likelihoodVeteransPrescriptionCareFurther studiesAdministrative dataOne-thirdProject STEP: Implementing the Veterans Health Administration’s Stepped Care Model of Pain Management
Edmond SN, Moore BA, Dorflinger LM, Goulet JL, Becker WC, Heapy AA, Sellinger JJ, Lee AW, Levin FL, Ruser CB, Kerns RD. Project STEP: Implementing the Veterans Health Administration’s Stepped Care Model of Pain Management. Pain Medicine 2018, 19: s30-s37. PMID: 30203015, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pny094.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAgedAnalgesics, OpioidAnti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-SteroidalCohort StudiesDelivery of Health Care, IntegratedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPainPain ManagementUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsVeteransVeterans HealthConceptsVA Connecticut Healthcare SystemPrimary care providersVeterans Health AdministrationPain careStepped care modelCare providersPain managementCare modelHealth care utilization dataMultimodal pain careNonopioid analgesic prescribingLong-term opioidsElectronic health record dataPain intensity ratingsHealth record dataClinical health psychologyNonpharmacological servicesAnalgesic prescribingOpioid prescribingPharmacological managementNonpharmacological approachesNonpharmacological treatmentsReferral practicesPhysical therapyCare practicesDuration of opioid prescriptions predicts incident nonmedical use of prescription opioids among U.S. veterans receiving medical care
Barry DT, Marshall BDL, Becker WC, Gordon AJ, Crystal S, Kerns RD, Gaither JR, Gordon KS, Justice AC, Fiellin DA, Edelman EJ. Duration of opioid prescriptions predicts incident nonmedical use of prescription opioids among U.S. veterans receiving medical care. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2018, 191: 348-354. PMID: 30176548, PMCID: PMC6596307, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.07.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrescription opioid receiptPrescription opioidsMedical careOpioid receiptVeterans Health Administration primary careNonmedical useMultivariable Cox modelInfectious disease clinicProspective cohort studyProportional hazards regressionPrescription opioid medicationsPublic health problemSubstance use disordersMedication-related characteristicsOpioid therapyOpioid medicationsOpioid prescriptionsCohort studyDisease clinicMedian ageHazards regressionEligible participantsPrimary careRisk factorsIncidence rateMaking Integrated Multimodal Pain Care a Reality: A Path Forward
Kerns RD, Krebs EE, Atkins D. Making Integrated Multimodal Pain Care a Reality: A Path Forward. Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2018, 33: 1-3. PMID: 29633131, PMCID: PMC5902350, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-018-4361-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAnalgesics, OpioidBiomedical ResearchChronic PainCombined Modality TherapyHumansPrimary Health CareUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsVeteran Experiences Seeking Non-pharmacologic Approaches for Pain
Giannitrapani K, McCaa M, Haverfield M, Kerns RD, Timko C, Dobscha S, Lorenz K. Veteran Experiences Seeking Non-pharmacologic Approaches for Pain. Military Medicine 2018, 183: e628-e634. PMID: 29590422, DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usy018.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultCognitive Behavioral TherapyExercise TherapyFemaleHealth Services AccessibilityHumansMaleMassageMiddle AgedMindfulnessOccupational TherapyPainPain ManagementQualitative ResearchRural PopulationUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsVeteransYogaConceptsNon-pharmacologic approachesUS military veteransPatient-centered pain careVA health care systemManagement of painNumeric rating scalePrimary care clinicsMilitary veteransPain intensity ratingsSpecific access barriersVA healthcare systemMulti-level barriersHealth care systemVeterans' experiencesFuture implementation effortsPain screeningCare clinicsPain carePrimary careCare coordinationPain studiesPainPain experienceVeterans' knowledgeFemale veteransMixed methods formative evaluation of a collaborative care program to decrease risky opioid prescribing and increase non-pharmacologic approaches to pain management
Becker WC, Mattocks KM, Frank JW, Bair MJ, Jankowski RL, Kerns RD, Painter JT, Fenton BT, Midboe AM, Martino S. Mixed methods formative evaluation of a collaborative care program to decrease risky opioid prescribing and increase non-pharmacologic approaches to pain management. Addictive Behaviors 2018, 86: 138-145. PMID: 29576479, DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.03.009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-pharmacologic treatment modalitiesImplementation facilitation strategyPain management providersNon-pharmacologic approachesCollaborative care programPatient-level barriersSemi-structured qualitative phone interviewsClinical pharmacist's roleSystem-level barriersQualitative phone interviewsMixed-methods formative evaluationVeterans Affairs (VA) employeesOpioid prescribingPain managementTreatment modalitiesPharmacist's roleCare programClinical programsChange ScalePhone interviewsOpioidsQualitative themesDescriptive statisticsOrganizational readinessSubsequent rate
2017
Multiple Sources of Prescription Payment and Risky Opioid Therapy Among Veterans
Becker WC, Fenton BT, Brandt CA, Doyle EL, Francis J, Goulet JL, Moore BA, Torrise V, Kerns RD, Kreiner PW. Multiple Sources of Prescription Payment and Risky Opioid Therapy Among Veterans. Medical Care 2017, 55: s33-s36. PMID: 28410338, DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000722.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAnalgesics, OpioidCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansInsurance, Health, ReimbursementKentuckyMaleMiddle AgedRisk-TakingUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsVeterans HealthConceptsOpioid therapySource of paymentHigher oddsHigh-dose opioid therapyHigh-risk opioid prescribingMorphine equivalent daily dosePayment sourceOpioid analgesic prescriptionsPrescription monitoring programsEquivalent daily doseCross-sectional studyAnalgesic prescriptionOpioid prescribingBenzodiazepine therapyDaily doseUS veteransFiscal year 2014TherapyPrivate insuranceLogistic regressionRelated harmsPrescription paymentAnalytic sampleOpioidsOddsCare coordination in epilepsy: Measuring neurologists' connectivity using social network analysis
Altalib HH, Fenton BT, Cheung KH, Pugh MJV, Bates J, Valente TW, Kerns RD, Brandt CA. Care coordination in epilepsy: Measuring neurologists' connectivity using social network analysis. Epilepsy & Behavior 2017, 73: 31-35. PMID: 28605631, DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.05.026.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsEpilepsyHealth PersonnelHealth ServicesHumansNeurologistsSocial NetworkingUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsConceptsVeterans Health AdministrationCare coordinationHealth care providersCare providersVA facilitiesEpilepsy centersSpecialty careEpilepsy careEpilepsy patientsHealth AdministrationFacility levelNumber of providersNeurologistsFacility typeCareProvidersType of facilityMixed modelsSame facilityPatientsEpilepsyAdministration