Needs and Wishes Towards Sex- and Gender-Sensitive Chronic Pain Management: A Qualitative Study with German General Practitioners
Alexandra Piotrowski,1 Alexandra Schmidt,1 Natalie Seuken,1 Lia Goldberg,1 Neele Kufeld,2 Christine Kersting,1 Veronika Bencheva,3 Petra Thürmann,3,4 Achim Mortsiefer1 On behalf of the GESCO study group1General Practice II and Patient-Centeredness in Primary Care, Institute of General Practice and P...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Dove Medical Press
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Pain Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/needs-and-wishes-towards-sex--and-gender-sensitive-chronic-pain-manage-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPR |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849423431575011328 |
|---|---|
| author | Piotrowski A Schmidt A Seuken N Goldberg L Kufeld N Kersting C Bencheva V Thürmann P Mortsiefer A |
| author_facet | Piotrowski A Schmidt A Seuken N Goldberg L Kufeld N Kersting C Bencheva V Thürmann P Mortsiefer A |
| author_sort | Piotrowski A |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Alexandra Piotrowski,1 Alexandra Schmidt,1 Natalie Seuken,1 Lia Goldberg,1 Neele Kufeld,2 Christine Kersting,1 Veronika Bencheva,3 Petra Thürmann,3,4 Achim Mortsiefer1 On behalf of the GESCO study group1General Practice II and Patient-Centeredness in Primary Care, Institute of General Practice and Primary Care, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany; 2General Practice I and Interprofessional Care, Institute of General Practice and Primary Care, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany; 3Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany; 4Philipp Klee-Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Helios University Hospital Wuppertal, Wuppertal, GermanyCorrespondence: Alexandra Piotrowski, Witten/Herdecke University, Faculty of Health, Alfred-Herrhausen-Str. 50, Witten, 58448, Germany, Email Alexandra.piotrowski@uni-wh.dePurpose: This study is part of the GESCO feasibility project (funded by the German Federal Ministry of Health) aimed at developing a sex- and gender-sensitive primary care intervention for patients with chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) receiving long-term opioid therapy (LTOT). To inform the intervention design, we explored general practitioners’ (GPs) experiences and needs in managing this patient group, with a particular focus on the role of sex and gender.Methods: We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with five GPs in Germany using a convenience sample. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the Rapid approach to integrate findings quickly into the broader project.Results: Treating patients with CNCP and LTOT is highly complex and emotionally demanding. GPs described feeling caught between patients’ high expectations and their own limitations, which often strained therapeutic relationships. Gender dynamics played a key role in shaping these interactions. While male GPs emphasized neutrality, underlying gender stereotypes still influenced their behavior. Female GPs reported stronger trust with female patients, while male GPs described a greater focus on asserting control. Stigmatization—especially affecting female patients—was reported to hinder open communication and trust. GPs expressed the need for more time, better training in gender-sensitive care, and stronger interdisciplinary collaboration.Conclusion: To improve care for patients with CNCP and LTOT, recommendations include: extending consultation times with adequate reimbursement, ensuring comprehensive medical histories, enhancing GP training in gender-sensitive care, improving diagnostic tools, and promoting peer collaboration. Further measures involve supporting patient self-management, empathy, and communication, as well as adopting a biopsychosocial and sex- and gender-sensitive approach to treatment.Keywords: long-term opioid therapy, chronic non-cancer pain, chronic pain in general practice, sex- and gender-sensitive medical care, needs assessment |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fa8562148f8f431ea3535b6a2daf85a3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1178-7090 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Pain Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-fa8562148f8f431ea3535b6a2daf85a32025-08-20T03:30:35ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Pain Research1178-70902025-05-01Volume 18Issue 125672581103097Needs and Wishes Towards Sex- and Gender-Sensitive Chronic Pain Management: A Qualitative Study with German General PractitionersPiotrowski ASchmidt ASeuken N0Goldberg LKufeld NKersting C1Bencheva VThürmann P2Mortsiefer AInstitute of General practice and outpatient healthcareChair of General Practice II and Patient-Centredness in Primary Care, Institute of General Practice and Primary CareChair of Clinical PharmacologyAlexandra Piotrowski,1 Alexandra Schmidt,1 Natalie Seuken,1 Lia Goldberg,1 Neele Kufeld,2 Christine Kersting,1 Veronika Bencheva,3 Petra Thürmann,3,4 Achim Mortsiefer1 On behalf of the GESCO study group1General Practice II and Patient-Centeredness in Primary Care, Institute of General Practice and Primary Care, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany; 2General Practice I and Interprofessional Care, Institute of General Practice and Primary Care, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany; 3Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany; 4Philipp Klee-Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Helios University Hospital Wuppertal, Wuppertal, GermanyCorrespondence: Alexandra Piotrowski, Witten/Herdecke University, Faculty of Health, Alfred-Herrhausen-Str. 50, Witten, 58448, Germany, Email Alexandra.piotrowski@uni-wh.dePurpose: This study is part of the GESCO feasibility project (funded by the German Federal Ministry of Health) aimed at developing a sex- and gender-sensitive primary care intervention for patients with chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) receiving long-term opioid therapy (LTOT). To inform the intervention design, we explored general practitioners’ (GPs) experiences and needs in managing this patient group, with a particular focus on the role of sex and gender.Methods: We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with five GPs in Germany using a convenience sample. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the Rapid approach to integrate findings quickly into the broader project.Results: Treating patients with CNCP and LTOT is highly complex and emotionally demanding. GPs described feeling caught between patients’ high expectations and their own limitations, which often strained therapeutic relationships. Gender dynamics played a key role in shaping these interactions. While male GPs emphasized neutrality, underlying gender stereotypes still influenced their behavior. Female GPs reported stronger trust with female patients, while male GPs described a greater focus on asserting control. Stigmatization—especially affecting female patients—was reported to hinder open communication and trust. GPs expressed the need for more time, better training in gender-sensitive care, and stronger interdisciplinary collaboration.Conclusion: To improve care for patients with CNCP and LTOT, recommendations include: extending consultation times with adequate reimbursement, ensuring comprehensive medical histories, enhancing GP training in gender-sensitive care, improving diagnostic tools, and promoting peer collaboration. Further measures involve supporting patient self-management, empathy, and communication, as well as adopting a biopsychosocial and sex- and gender-sensitive approach to treatment.Keywords: long-term opioid therapy, chronic non-cancer pain, chronic pain in general practice, sex- and gender-sensitive medical care, needs assessmenthttps://www.dovepress.com/needs-and-wishes-towards-sex--and-gender-sensitive-chronic-pain-manage-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPRLong-term opioid therapychronic pain in general practicesex- and gender-sensitive medical careneeds assessment |
| spellingShingle | Piotrowski A Schmidt A Seuken N Goldberg L Kufeld N Kersting C Bencheva V Thürmann P Mortsiefer A Needs and Wishes Towards Sex- and Gender-Sensitive Chronic Pain Management: A Qualitative Study with German General Practitioners Journal of Pain Research Long-term opioid therapy chronic pain in general practice sex- and gender-sensitive medical care needs assessment |
| title | Needs and Wishes Towards Sex- and Gender-Sensitive Chronic Pain Management: A Qualitative Study with German General Practitioners |
| title_full | Needs and Wishes Towards Sex- and Gender-Sensitive Chronic Pain Management: A Qualitative Study with German General Practitioners |
| title_fullStr | Needs and Wishes Towards Sex- and Gender-Sensitive Chronic Pain Management: A Qualitative Study with German General Practitioners |
| title_full_unstemmed | Needs and Wishes Towards Sex- and Gender-Sensitive Chronic Pain Management: A Qualitative Study with German General Practitioners |
| title_short | Needs and Wishes Towards Sex- and Gender-Sensitive Chronic Pain Management: A Qualitative Study with German General Practitioners |
| title_sort | needs and wishes towards sex and gender sensitive chronic pain management a qualitative study with german general practitioners |
| topic | Long-term opioid therapy chronic pain in general practice sex- and gender-sensitive medical care needs assessment |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/needs-and-wishes-towards-sex--and-gender-sensitive-chronic-pain-manage-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPR |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT piotrowskia needsandwishestowardssexandgendersensitivechronicpainmanagementaqualitativestudywithgermangeneralpractitioners AT schmidta needsandwishestowardssexandgendersensitivechronicpainmanagementaqualitativestudywithgermangeneralpractitioners AT seukenn needsandwishestowardssexandgendersensitivechronicpainmanagementaqualitativestudywithgermangeneralpractitioners AT goldbergl needsandwishestowardssexandgendersensitivechronicpainmanagementaqualitativestudywithgermangeneralpractitioners AT kufeldn needsandwishestowardssexandgendersensitivechronicpainmanagementaqualitativestudywithgermangeneralpractitioners AT kerstingc needsandwishestowardssexandgendersensitivechronicpainmanagementaqualitativestudywithgermangeneralpractitioners AT benchevav needsandwishestowardssexandgendersensitivechronicpainmanagementaqualitativestudywithgermangeneralpractitioners AT thurmannp needsandwishestowardssexandgendersensitivechronicpainmanagementaqualitativestudywithgermangeneralpractitioners AT mortsiefera needsandwishestowardssexandgendersensitivechronicpainmanagementaqualitativestudywithgermangeneralpractitioners |