Human patterning and chronic pain

The purpose of this study was to explore the nature of chronic pain through Rogerian nursing science. A matched sample was drawn from persons within chronic pain management programs (N = 113) and community dwelling adults without chronic pain (N = 113). The Human Field Motion Tool and the Power as Knowing Participation in Change Tool were used as measures of pattern manifestation (alphas = .94). Multivariate analysis of variance revealed significant differences between groups on patterning measures (p < .001). Although sociodemographic and pain variables were included in the analysis, they were not found to be related to patterning differences. The results of this study provide support for conceptualizing chronic pain as a pattern manifestation. Determining implications of this finding are among recommendations for knowledge development in explicating a nursing science perspective on pain.