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Living well with chronic pain: a classical grounded theory
Bronwyn Lennox Thompson1, Jeffrey Gage2, Ray Kirk3
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Disability and Rehabilitation
|January 13, 2019
Summary
People living with chronic pain can cope well by making sense of their condition, deciding to move forward, and persisting flexibly. This involves engaging in meaningful occupations to renegotiate their sense of self.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation science
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Chronic pain affects many individuals, yet theoretical explanations for successful coping remain limited.
- Understanding factors that enable individuals to live well despite chronic pain is crucial for effective rehabilitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a mid-level theory explaining how and why some individuals cope effectively with chronic pain.
- To identify key factors, particularly those related to acceptance and self-concept, in successful chronic pain adjustment.
Main Methods:
- Employed classical grounded theory methodology.
- Collected data from community-dwelling individuals who self-identified as living well with chronic pain.
Main Results:
- The primary concern for individuals with chronic pain is restoring disrupted self-coherence.
- Resolution involves making sense of pain, deciding to transition from 'patient' to 'person,' and flexibly persisting through occupational engagement.
- Occupational engagement and coping strategies are vital for developing future plans and re-occupying the self.
Conclusions:
- Living well with chronic pain is a process of renegotiating self-concept through meaningful occupation.
- Rehabilitation should focus on helping individuals make sense of their pain, transition to a person-centered identity, and flexibly persist in valued activities.
- Clinicians, especially occupational therapists, should recognize the motivational power of valued occupations in chronic pain adjustment.
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