Patient and providers’ perspectives on the unmet needs and considerations for participation in a mind-body program for Spanish-speaking adults with chronic pain

PURPOSE: Spanish-speaking adults with chronic pain experience worse outcomes compared to their English-speaking counterparts. Identifying unmet needs, barriers, and facilitators can inform behavioral interventions to improve chronic pain management and reduce existing disparities. This study explores the perspectives of Spanish-speaking adults with chronic pain and healthcare providers on pain-related needs, barriers, and facilitators to participation in a mind-body and activity program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a total of four qualitative focus groups with 22 patients with chronic pain in Spanish and six focus groups with 21 healthcare providers (4 in English; 2 in Spanish). A bilingual team conducted a hybrid deductive-inductive analysis. RESULTS: Within the needs domain, we identified two key themes: the need to address co-occurring physical and psychological concerns and heterogeneity in treatment expectations and attitudes toward mind-body approaches. Within the barriers to care domain, themes were time poverty and economic hardship that deprioritized pain management, pain stigma leading to social isolation, and limited health literacy. Within the facilitators to care domain, themes were interest in walking with friends and family, and spirituality and religion as foundational sources of pain coping. DISCUSSION: Patients and providers discussed complex socio-economic and health-related needs, as well as diverse attitudes toward mind-body care. Barriers such as time poverty, stigma, and limited literacy ought to be considered and addressed in pain programs to achieve meaningful engagement of Spanish-speaking adults. CONCLUSION: Findings underscore key factors that may increase the accessibility and generalizability of mind-body treatments for chronic pain among Latine adults.