Patient expectations and understanding of diagnosis entering an interdisciplinary chronic pelvic pain program: A cross-sectional study

Background: Chronic pelvic pain is a complex condition. Few studies have focused on patient expectations of diagnosis and treatment in female chronic pelvic pain populations. Not knowing this information can lead to disparity and frustration between provider care and patient expectations resulting in poor patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore patient expectations and understanding of diagnosis prior to engaging in an interdisciplinary pelvic pain program. Methods: This is a cross sectional study of women enrolled in a tertiary Chronic Pain Center pelvic pain program in May 2019. Data were extracted from intake questionnaires to classify demographic variables and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Expectations and diagnoses were clustered in themes. Student's t-test was used to compare biomedical focus and biopsychosocial focus groups to the Pain Disability Index (PDI) and the EQ-5D results, and to compare self-reported diagnoses with treatment expectations between groups. Results: When asked about perceived diagnosis, 74% reported a gynecologic cause for their pain, 25.7% reported musculoskeletal causes, and 21.9% reported other health conditions. For treatment expectations: 46.6% believed they required rehabilitation, 30.8% responded "I don't know", and 21.2% reported perceived need for medication. There was no difference in PDI or EQ-5D scores between patients who identified perceived treatment options and those who reported "I don't know". Conclusions: Most patients identified a perceived cause for their pain, but there was uncertainty and ambiguity about treatment options. Understanding and addressing the perception and expectations of individuals is imperative to patient-centered care and can lead to improved outcomes.