Date of Award
Summer 2026
Language
English
Embargo Period
3-9-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
College/School/Department
Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology
Program
Counseling Psychology
First Advisor
Dolores M. Cimini
Committee Members
Dolores M. Cimini, Lisa M. McAndrew, Katharine Bloeser
Keywords
chronic pain, qualitative, nonpharmacological, provider, barriers, facilitators
Subject Categories
Counseling Psychology
Abstract
Background. Chronic pain is a public health concern impacting approximately 20% of adults in the U.S. Nonpharmacological interventions are considered first-line treatments for patients with chronic pain, yet nonpharmacological interventions remain significantly underutilized. While previous research has explored barriers from the patient’s perspective, limited attention has been paid to providers’ experiences implementing these treatments. This qualitative meta-synthesis aimed to examine provider-perceived barriers and facilitators to implementing nonpharmacolgical treatments for adults with chronic pain. Methods. Independent reviewers conducted systematic searches across PubMed, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and ProQuest Dissertations using relevant (e.g., “mental health provider”, “nonpharmacological”) and applied inclusion criteria to identify eligible qualitative studies published in English since 2010. Studies were critically appraised using the Johanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tool, and findings were extracted, coded using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), and synthesized following JBI meta-aggregation procedures. Results. Implementation barriers and facilitators occurred across multiple levels, including the outer setting, inner setting, individual and innovation characteristics and the implementation process. Discussion. These findings underscore the need for system- and organizational-level incentives to promote the adoption of nonpharmacological treatments into routine chronic pain care.
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
McFarlin, Mikhaela, "Providers' Perceptions of Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Non-Pharmacological Treatment for Adults with Chronic Pain: A Meta-Synthesis" (2026). Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present). 374.
https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/etd/374