Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 29, 2025

Author Spotlight: Quantifying Pain Experience – An Illustrative Approach Using the Pain Body Diagram
Published on: July 7, 2023
How chronic pain changes a person's life story in relation to participation in occupational roles: A narrative
P Strub1, T Satink1,2, B E Gantschnig3,4
1European Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Amsterdam, Switzerland.
Background:
Chronic pain (CP) affects a large part of the population worldwide, decreasing physical and mental health and causing a shift in occupational roles. This has created a need for a better understanding to address this problem.
Objectives:
To explore possible changes in occupational roles and the participation levels within among people diagnosed with CP over time.
Material And Methods:
The study used a qualitative, narrative methodology. Five people with CP were included in the study. They participated in a single-life story interview coupled with timeline drawings. Data analysis was conducted using a narrative analysis.
Results:
The results revealed that occupational roles and the participation therein changed over time. Employee was considered the most important role, whereby the participants tried to maintain this role by sacrificing other roles within their lives. Moreover, CMP forced a change in their occupational identity.
Conclusion:
CP can disrupt a person's life and demand a change in occupational roles and the participation levels within. This process was accompanied by possible changes in their occupational identity.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
Analgesia and Pain Management
Nociception
Classification of Illness
An illness is a response to a disease in which the person's level of functioning is changed compared with a previous level. The general classification of illness includes acute and chronic.
Acute illness is severe...
Methods of Documentation II: POMR
Chronic Pancreatitis II: Collaborative Care
Assessment:

