Disruption and sustainment of cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain in the Veterans Health Administration following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract
The sustainability of evidence-based practices (EBPs) is a pressing issue for implementation science and healthcare systems. The COVID-19 pandemic and related policies severely strained healthcare systems, thus representing a key test of the sustainability of EBPs. The current study examined the sustainability of one EBP- cognitive-behavioral therapy for chronic pain (CBT-CP) - in the Veterans Health Administration. Changes in provision of CBT-CP after the onset of COVID-19 were examined both qualitatively, using administrative datasets, and qualitatively, through interviews with CBT-CP providers. Changes in total psychotherapy services were also examined for reference. Results indicated CBT-CP provision was substantially disrupted by COVID-19. Interviewees reported difficulties regarding engagement in virtual sessions, disruptions from the home environment, and logistical challenges. Results indicate specific pathways by which the pandemic may have negatively affected the sustainability of this EBP.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-2024
Publication Title
BMC Health Services Research
Recommended Citation
McGuire, A., Flanagan, M., Coffing, J., Traylor, M., Myers, L., Henry, N., Carter, J., Kukla, M. and Matthias, M. (2024). Disruption and sustainment of cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain in the Veterans Health Administration following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. PREPRINT (Version 1) available at Research Square https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3783148/v1