Patients with chronic pain value empathic doctors who validate concerns and communicate clearly

Researchers have conducted a cross-sectional study of patient satisfaction among adult participants with chronic low back pain in a national pain research registry using self-reported measures of physician communication, physician empathy, current physician opioid prescribing for low back pain, and outcomes pertaining to pain intensity, physical function, and health-related quality of life. The work is published in The Annals of Family Medicine journal.