Natural Product Use Among Veterans with Chronic Pain: A Qualitative Study of Attitudes and Communication with Healthcare Providers

Background

Despite mixed evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of natural products, many are marketed for pain and related symptoms. Use of these products is prevalent among veterans, who have disproportionately high rates of chronic pain. To date, however, there is limited research on veterans’ beliefs and attitudes about natural products and their communication with healthcare providers about their natural product use.

Objective

To explore how veterans experiencing chronic pain make decisions about natural product use, to investigate veterans’ beliefs about the safety and efficacy of these products, and to examine veterans’ experiences discussing natural products with their providers.

Design

Qualitative sub-study conducted as a supplement to a pragmatic randomized controlled trial for chronic pain management.

Participants

Twenty veterans experiencing chronic pain who reported using natural products for pain management or related health concerns.

Approach

Qualitative interviews with veterans were conducted over the phone and audio-recorded. Interviews were guided by an original semi-structured interview guide and qualitative data were analyzed using a template-based rapid analysis technique.

Key Results

Veterans with chronic pain may perceive natural products as safer than pharmaceutical products and may prefer to use natural products. Talking with providers about natural products is important to veterans, who would like information regarding the safety and potential for interaction of natural products with pharmaceutical products. However, veterans were frequently disappointed with these conversations. Veterans felt their providers demonstrated biases against natural products, which negatively impacted patient-provider relationships.

Conclusions

Veterans wish to have more productive conversations with providers about natural products. They value providers’ open-mindedness towards natural products and transparency about limitations in their knowledge. Suggestions for how providers and healthcare systems might better support veterans interested in natural products are discussed.