The CDC is seeking input from people who live with pain, caregivers, and healthcare providers to gain a better understanding of their values and preferences related to pain and pain management. The project will complement CDC’s ongoing work to update or expand the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain, published in 2016.

The CDC will conduct interviews, either over the phone or via an online platform, with approximately 100 stakeholders. These stakeholders include patients with acute or chronic pain, patients' family members and/or caregivers, and healthcare providers who care for patients with pain or conditions that can complicate pain management (e.g., opioid use disorder or overdose).

The interviews will cover experiences with using or prescribing different pain management options, including opioids, non-opioid medication, and non-pharmacological options (i.e., exercise therapy). The CDC estimates each interview will take approximately 45-60 minutes. The deadline to apply is August 21st, 2020.

“Many in the bleeding disorders community live with chronic pain,” said Leonard Valentino, MD, president and CEO of the National Hemophilia Foundation. “It’s important that their perspectives – and the perspectives of our providers – are included in these conversations, especially when the outcomes could have an effect on how they manage pain in the future.”

More information, including how to apply, can be found on the Federal Register website.