OBJECTIVES: Describe the implementation process of a patient-centered interdisciplinary intervention that increased diversity of health services in a primary care center for adults with chronic non-cancer pain.

METHODS: the study used a qualitative methodology. We designed three phases of implementation where activities, new job responsabilities, continuity of care, and continuous education were provided. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. New services included: physiotherapy with a focus on pain neuroscience, a cognitive behavioral approach from psychology, self-management, incorporation of new drugs, and established communication vias with specialists.

RESULTS: The results showed that implementing the intervention strategy was possible. Health services were incorporated into the center's operation and merged with the multimorbidity strategy currently implemented at the national level. In the pre-implementation phase, continuous education and training were provided for primary care physicians, physiotherapists, and psychologists in general concepts of chronic pain, clinical assessment, medications, and allied therapies. During the implementation phase, organizational adaptations were made to achieve access and continuity of care. Finally, in the monitoring phase, actions ensured the intervention's sustainability over time and consolidated lessons learned for scale-up.

CONCLUSIONS: The study reveals the implementation process of an intervention strategy based on a Ministry of Health guideline for primary care released in 2021. The experience and lessons learned to provide relevant insights for national scale-up and offer implementation knowledge for other countries dealing with chronic non-cancer pain.