Exploring thoughts about pain and pain management: Interviews with South Asian community members in the UK

This research sought to explore the pain management beliefs of members of the South Asian community living in the UK. In particular, their understanding of the key components of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) informed pain management programmes (PMPs) was explored.

Snowball sampling was used to recruit 10 participants from a South Asian background for interview. Interviews were guided by a semi-structured interview schedule and explored pain history, specific pain experiences, community member expressions of, and reactions to, pain, treatment expectations and perceptions of self-management. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and subjected to descriptive thematic analysis.

Four themes were developed: impacts of chronic pain, within-group variations in responses to chronic pain, personal responsibility vs. paternalistic care, and the acceptability of pain management concepts (relaxation and meditation, exercise and physical activity, and thoughts and beliefs: the dangers of pain healers).

This work highlights how discourses around the impacts of chronic pain; beliefs about, and preferences for, approaches to care; and the acceptability of pain management concepts fit with existing PMP content. Recommendations are made regarding opportunities for social prescribing; consideration of the incorporation of acceptable forms of physical activity, including yoga and walking, within PMPs; and the potential benefit of highlighting role models and creating social opportunities for these activities. Some beliefs and practices in this area are under-researched, and further work that explores gender and generational differences in pain perceptions, and the potential dangers of the use of pain healers is needed.