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‘All Under One Roof’: Health Professional Perspectives on Integrating Musculoskeletal Pain Management in a Proximity-Based Primary Healthcare Model
Conference poster   Open access

‘All Under One Roof’: Health Professional Perspectives on Integrating Musculoskeletal Pain Management in a Proximity-Based Primary Healthcare Model

Shauna Fjaagesund, Gary Campbell, Jodie Orchard, Evan Jones and Florin Oprescu
UniSC Research Conference , 2025 (Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, 27-Oct-2025–31-Oct-2025)
2025
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All Under One Roof Health Professional Perspectives on Integrating Musculoskeletal Pain Management in a Proximity-Based Primary Healthcare Model Fjaagesund S9.49 MBDownloadView
Poster Open Access CC BY-NC V4.0

Abstract

Health services and systems General practice Allied health and rehabilitation science Clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice Rural and remote area health Disability and functional capacity Urgent and critical care, and emergency medicine multidisciplinary interdisciplinary primary healthcare general practice allied health non pharmacological pain management chronic disease management models of care proximity based health services referral pathways care continuity
Background: The management of musculoskeletal pain is increasingly shifting towards consumer-centric, multimodal approaches within primary healthcare to improve outcomes and reduce opioid dependence. However, the effective integration of health professionals is often hindered by inconsistent terminology and a lack of clarity around concepts of collaboration and integration. Methods:This qualitative study explored how 22 health professionals at a large, integrated primary care facility in Australia define and experience service integration for non-pharmacological musculoskeletal pain management. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews in 2021 and 2023. The interviews, averaging 32 minutes, were transcribed and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify key themes related to service integration. Results: The analysis revealed several key elements of integration. Physical proximity, or the co-location of services, was identified as a major enabler of collaboration, facilitating knowledge sharing and relationships. Health professionals highlighted the importance of a shared consumer-centric philosophy, evidence-based care, mutual respect for professional roles, and forward-focused collaboration to increase integration. Both multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary activities were observed, with higher levels of interdisciplinary integration characterised by effective communication, which supported co-created and shared processes, treatment decisions and a collective responsibility for patient outcomes. Conclusion: Within this site-specific context, findings suggest that physical service proximity provides an opportunity for integration. However, realising its full potential requires deeper relationships and effective communication, including cultural alignment, to co-create processes, engage in shared decisions and participate in collective responsibility needed to overcome consumer and systemic barriers.

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