2021
Pain, Complex Chronic Conditions and Potential Inappropriate Medication in People with Dementia. Lessons Learnt for Pain Treatment Plans Utilizing Data from the Veteran Health Administration
Husebo BS, Kerns RD, Han L, Skanderson M, Gnjidic D, Allore HG. Pain, Complex Chronic Conditions and Potential Inappropriate Medication in People with Dementia. Lessons Learnt for Pain Treatment Plans Utilizing Data from the Veteran Health Administration. Brain Sciences 2021, 11: 86. PMID: 33440668, PMCID: PMC7827274, DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11010086.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchChronic complex conditionsSevere pain intensityVeterans Health AdministrationPain intensityHealth AdministrationDiscontinuation of opioidsInappropriate pain managementPain treatment planPotential inappropriate medicationsInappropriate medication useComplex chronic conditionsNon-pharmacological approachesImportant risk factorAdverse drug reactionsFinal analytic sampleAnalgesic efficacyInappropriate medicationsOpioid medicationsPain medicationMedication usePain managementPersistent painChronic painMedical illnessOutpatient visits
2020
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
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 ResearchConceptsVeterans 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 disordersThe Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Pain Intensity Among Veterans with Musculoskeletal Disorders: Findings from the MSD Cohort Study
Higgins DM, Buta E, Heapy AA, Driscoll MA, Kerns RD, Masheb R, Becker WC, Hausmann LRM, Bair MJ, Wandner L, Janke EA, Brandt CA, Goulet JL. The Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Pain Intensity Among Veterans with Musculoskeletal Disorders: Findings from the MSD Cohort Study. Pain Medicine 2020, 21: 2563-2572. PMID: 32186722, PMCID: PMC7778330, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnaa043.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBody mass indexVeterans Health AdministrationPain intensityMass indexFunction of BMILow back pain groupOdds of painBack pain groupOverweight/obesityElectronic health record dataHealth record dataUS military veteransMusculoskeletal disorder diagnosisCohort studyOsteoarthritis groupPain groupMean ageNational cohortHigh prevalenceMSD diagnosisMusculoskeletal disordersPainHealth AdministrationDisorder diagnosisCross-sectional data“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 ResearchConceptsPain 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
Core 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
Relationships Between Temporomandibular Disorders, MSD Conditions, and Mental Health Comorbidities: Findings from the Veterans Musculoskeletal Disorders Cohort
Fenton BT, Goulet JL, Bair MJ, Cowley T, Kerns RD. Relationships Between Temporomandibular Disorders, MSD Conditions, and Mental Health Comorbidities: Findings from the Veterans Musculoskeletal Disorders Cohort. Pain Medicine 2018, 19: s61-s68. PMID: 30203016, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pny145.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMental health comorbiditiesTemporomandibular disordersRace/ethnicityHealth comorbiditiesTMD casesAssociation of TMDNational Veterans Health AdministrationNonwhite race/ethnicityNontraumatic joint disordersChronic painful conditionsVeterans Health AdministrationChi-square testCross-sectional analysisObservational cohortBack painPainful conditionsJoint disordersComorbidity patternsMood disordersHispanic ethnicityHispanic womenMale veteransComorbiditiesHealth AdministrationDisorder cohort
2017
Nationwide Implementation and Outcomes of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain Over Clinical Video Teleconferencing
Connolly K, Vanderploeg P, Kerns R, Grant C, Sellinger J, Godleski L. Nationwide Implementation and Outcomes of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain Over Clinical Video Teleconferencing. Journal Of Technology In Behavioral Science 2017, 3: 26-31. DOI: 10.1007/s41347-017-0024-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchClinical video teleconferencingVeterans Health AdministrationChronic painCognitive behavioral therapyCBT-CPBehavioral therapyElectronic medical recordsElectronic medical record systemMedical record systemPain intensityPain diagnosisCapitated payment systemMedical recordsTreatment appointmentsTherapy appointmentsDaily livingHealth AdministrationStudy reporting resultsPainTelehealth servicesTelehealth technologyLicensure restrictionsSample t-testNationwide implementationHealthcare systemCare 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 ResearchConceptsVeterans Health AdministrationCare coordinationHealth care providersCare providersVA facilitiesEpilepsy centersSpecialty careEpilepsy careEpilepsy patientsHealth AdministrationFacility levelNumber of providersNeurologistsFacility typeCareProvidersType of facilityMixed modelsSame facilityPatientsEpilepsyAdministration
2016
Implementation of telementoring for pain management in Veterans Health Administration: Spatial analysis
Carey EP, Frank JW, Kerns RD, Ho PM, Kirsh SR. Implementation of telementoring for pain management in Veterans Health Administration: Spatial analysis. The Journal Of Rehabilitation Research And Development 2016, 53: 147-156. PMID: 26934696, DOI: 10.1682/jrrd.2014.10.0247.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVeterans Health AdministrationProportion of veteransPain managementSCAN-ECHOSpecialty Care Access Network-ExtensionHealth AdministrationPrimary care provider participationPain specialty clinicPrimary care providersSpecialty care clinicsCommunity Healthcare OutcomesLow spatial accessCare clinicsChronic painHealthcare networkPain careGroup of hospitalsSpecialty clinicVHA sitesCare providersVeterans HomeLogistic regressionHealthcare outcomesClinicProvider participation
2015
Evaluation of a Telementoring Intervention for Pain Management in the Veterans Health Administration
Frank JW, Carey EP, Fagan KM, Aron DC, Todd-Stenberg J, Moore BA, Kerns RD, Au DH, Ho PM, Kirsh SR. Evaluation of a Telementoring Intervention for Pain Management in the Veterans Health Administration. Pain Medicine 2015, 16: 1090-1100. PMID: 25716075, DOI: 10.1111/pme.12715.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrimary care providersChronic noncancer painVeterans Health AdministrationCare providersPatient panelMultivariable Cox proportional hazards modelsHealth AdministrationCox proportional hazards modelPain management competencyPhysical medicine servicesSpecialty pain clinicPain management educationPain management programProportional hazards modelSubstance use disordersNoncancer painNonopioid medicationsMedication initiationAnticonvulsant medicationPain clinicOpioid analgesicsPain managementChronic painPain careSpecialist consultationPrevalence and correlates of co-prescribing psychotropic medications with long-term opioid use nationally in the Veterans Health Administration
Barry DT, Sofuoglu M, Kerns RD, Wiechers IR, Rosenheck RA. Prevalence and correlates of co-prescribing psychotropic medications with long-term opioid use nationally in the Veterans Health Administration. Psychiatry Research 2015, 227: 324-332. PMID: 25863822, DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2015.03.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAnti-Anxiety AgentsAntidepressive AgentsDrug PrescriptionsFemaleHumansHypnotics and SedativesMaleMental DisordersOpioid-Related DisordersPrevalencePsychotropic DrugsSleep Initiation and Maintenance DisordersUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsVeteransVeterans HealthConceptsMental health clinicsPsychotropic medicationsOpioid prescriptionsHealth clinicsMedical indicationsAnxiolytics/sedatives/hypnoticsLong-term opioid useSpecialty mental health clinicsService use correlatesRelated adverse eventsSedative/hypnoticsVeterans Health AdministrationMental health treatmentAdverse eventsOpioid useHarmful side effectsFiscal year 2012More psychotropicsSide effectsPsychiatric diagnosisHealth treatmentMedicationsHealth AdministrationPsychotropicsAnxiety disorders
2014
Integrating Interdisciplinary Pain Management into Primary Care: Development and Implementation of a Novel Clinical Program
Dorflinger LM, Ruser C, Sellinger J, Edens EL, Kerns RD, Becker WC. Integrating Interdisciplinary Pain Management into Primary Care: Development and Implementation of a Novel Clinical Program. Pain Medicine 2014, 15: 2046-2054. PMID: 25234837, DOI: 10.1111/pme.12554.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrimary careRapid Process Improvement WorkshopCare servicesCommunity-based outpatient clinicsInterdisciplinary pain programPain management resourcesSystems-level gapsInterdisciplinary pain managementVeterans Health AdministrationLarge healthcare systemSystems-based interventionsEvidence of safetyInterprofessional groupStudy-Act approachPain clinicPain managementPain programOutpatient clinicImproved outcomesInterdisciplinary clinicMedical CenterProvider satisfactionHealth AdministrationPDSA cyclesMisuse problemsTrends and Regional Variation in Opioid Overdose Mortality Among Veterans Health Administration Patients, Fiscal Year 2001 to 2009
Bohnert AS, Ilgen MA, Trafton JA, Kerns RD, Eisenberg A, Ganoczy D, Blow FC. Trends and Regional Variation in Opioid Overdose Mortality Among Veterans Health Administration Patients, Fiscal Year 2001 to 2009. The Clinical Journal Of Pain 2014, 30: 605-612. PMID: 24281278, DOI: 10.1097/ajp.0000000000000011.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVeterans Health Administration patientsOpioid prescribingOverdose ratesNational Health SystemOverdose mortalityNational Death Index recordsHealth systemRate of overdosesPrescription opioid overdosesVeterans Health AdministrationOpioid overdose mortalityOpioid overdose deathsOverdose prevention strategiesPopulation-level associationPatient populationMedical recordsOpioid overdosesSemisynthetic opioidsOverdose deathsGeneral populationOpioid policyPrevention strategiesOpioidsHealth AdministrationPrescribing
2011
Behavioral medicine translation in the Veterans Health Administration: editorial to the special section on the Department of Veterans Affairs
Knight SJ, Kerns RD. Behavioral medicine translation in the Veterans Health Administration: editorial to the special section on the Department of Veterans Affairs. Translational Behavioral Medicine 2011, 1: 545-547. PMID: 24073077, PMCID: PMC3717677, DOI: 10.1007/s13142-011-0099-y.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2003
Rapid Improvement in Pain Management: The Veterans Health Administration and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Collaborative
Cleeland CS, Reyes-Gibby CC, Schall M, Nolan K, Paice J, Rosenberg JM, Tollett JH, Kerns RD. Rapid Improvement in Pain Management: The Veterans Health Administration and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Collaborative. The Clinical Journal Of Pain 2003, 19: 298-305. PMID: 12966255, DOI: 10.1097/00002508-200309000-00003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsCooperative BehaviorHospitals, VeteransHumansInterinstitutional RelationsOrganizational ObjectivesPainPain ManagementPatient Care ManagementPatient Education as TopicPractice Patterns, Physicians'Program DevelopmentQuality Assurance, Health CareTreatment OutcomeUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsConceptsPain care planPain managementSevere painPain assessmentCare plansLeast mild painVeterans Integrated Service NetworkPercentage of patientsPoor pain managementNumber of patientsPatient-reported dataVeterans Health AdministrationRapid improvementMild painVHA patientsMajor health care organizationsPain educationPatientsHealth AdministrationSystem-wide effortsPainHealth care organizationsProcess measuresHealth careIntegrated Service Networks