A recent article published in Gerontologist, and co-authored by TRIPLL members and affiliates, sought to evaluate the immediate and delayed consequences of chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) management. Over the course of the study, focus group sessions with patients, physicians, and physical therapists. Audiotapes of the sessions were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative methods. The authors’ identified “multiple aspects of time perceptions relevant to the management of CNCP: the long-term prognosis, the time horizon used for concrete treatment planning, and concerns about future side effects.” The authors also found that “time horizons in treatment planning differed between patients who were present-focused and providers who were focused on longer term effects, but treatment horizons did not differ by patient age.”
