SOTA Conferences | Pain and Opioid Consortium of Research (CORE)

SOTA Conferences

VA Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) has convened a series of “State of the Art” Conferences (SOTAs) to bring together leading VA and non-VA experts on specific priority topics related to Veterans health and health care. Goals of SOTA conferences are to establish consensus on the state of the evidence (i.e., what is currently known) and begin to identify priorities for future VA research. Two recent SOTAs focused on nondrug approaches to chronic musculoskeletal pain and strategies to improve opioid safety have informed the initial priorities of the Pain/Opioid CORE.

Nonpharmacological Approaches to Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Management
Effective Management of Pain and Addiction: Strategies to Improve Opioid Safety

Nonpharmacological Approaches to Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Management

November, 2016

Summary: The Planning Committee for the SOTA on nonpharmacological approaches for chronic musculoskeletal pain identified four primary focus areas for the conference: psychological/behavioral therapies; exercise/movement therapies; manual therapies; and models for delivering multi-modal pain care. Expert panelists contributed in a series of work groups to identify priority areas for nonpharmacological pain management research and policy recommendations.

Webinar:
Non-Pharmacological Approaches to Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Management: Recommendations from the State-of-the-Art Conference (HSR&D Cyberseminar, March 2017)
Presented by Robert Kerns, PhD and Erin Krebs, MD, MPH

Citations:

Becker, W.C., DeBar, L.L., Heapy, A.A. et al. A Research Agenda for Advancing Non-pharmacological Management of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Findings from a VHA State-of-the-art Conference. J Gen Intern Med. 33, 11–15 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-018-4345-6
Kligler, B., Bair, M.J., Banerjea, R. et al. Clinical Policy Recommendations from the VHA State-of-the-Art Conference on Non-Pharmacological Approaches to Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain. J Gen Intern Med. 33, 16–23 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-018-4323-z

Editorials:

Kerns, R.D., Krebs, E.E. & Atkins, D. Making Integrated Multimodal Pain Care a Reality: A Path Forward. J Gent Intern Med. 33, 1-3 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-018-4361-6
Cherkin, D.C. How Can the Intractable Problem of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain (CMP) Be Effectively Managed? The Need for a Well-Integrated Systems Approach. J Gen Intern Med. 33, 4–6 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-018-4362-5
Kroenke, K. Pain measurement in research and practice. J Gen Intern Med. 33, 7–8 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-018-4363-4
Schoomaker, E.B., Buckenmaier, C.C. For the Relief of Suffering. J Gen Intern Med. 33, 9–10 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-018-4364-3

Effective Management of Pain and Addiction: Strategies to Improve Opioid Safety

September, 2019

Summary: The Planning Committee for the SOTA on improving opioid safety identified three primary focus areas for the conference: managing opioid use disorder (OUD); long term opioid therapy (LTOT) for pain, including consideration of tapering; and treatment of co-occurring pain and substance use disorders. These focus areas were assigned to work groups, to which 56 subject matter expert participants were assigned to. Research priorities were identified by each of the work groups relevant to their specific focus area. Additional implementation and policy recommendations were also identified.

Webinar:
Opioids, Addiction, and Pain: State of the Art in VA (HSR&D Cyberseminar, December 2020)
Presented by William Becker, MD; Evelyn Chang, MD, MSHS; Keith Humphreys, PhD; Kate Mackey, MD; and Stephanie Veazie, MPH

Citations:

Becker, W.C., Krebs, E.E., Edmond, S.N. et al. A Research Agenda for Advancing Strategies to Improve Opioid Safety: Findings from a VHA State of the Art Conference. J Gen Intern Med. 35, 978–982 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-020-06260-9
Frank, J.W., Bohnert, A.S.B., Sandbrink, F. et al. Implementation and Policy Recommendations from the VHA State-of-the-Art Conference on Strategies to Improve Opioid Safety. J Gen Intern Med. 35, 983–987 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-020-06295-y

Editorials & Perspectives:

Becker, W.C., Humphreys, K., Atkins, D. et al. Mounting a Scientifically Informed Response to the Opioid Crisis in the Veterans Health Administration. J Gen Intern Med. 35, 883–885 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-020-06349-1
Priest, K.C., McCarty, D. & Lovejoy, T.I. Expanding Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder: Program and Policy Approaches from Outside the Veterans Health Administration. J Gen Intern Med. 35, 886–890 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-020-06266-3
Compton, W.M., Wiley, T. & Blanco, C. The Importance of Learning Health Systems in Addressing the Opioid Crisis. J Gen Intern Med. 35, 891–894 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-020-06267-2