Sense of control: Patients experiences of multimodel pain rehabilitation and its impact in their everyday lives

Abstract

Objective: Long-lasting pain is a challenge for patients? everyday lives. The aim of this study was to examine how women and men who have participated in multimodal pain rehabilitation experience its impact in their everyday lives. Patients and methods: Individual semi-structured interviews with 5 women and 3 men who had participated in multimodal pain rehabilitation at a clinic in Sweden, analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Participants perceived that their ?sense of control? increased, which had a positive impact in their everyday life. Sense of control consisted of 3 categories: importance of the patient?provider relationship, knowledge gained (especially on body functions and medication), and pain in a social context. Three results were discussed in particular: (i) a trustful patient?provider relationship based on confidence in the provider?s expertise was a prerequisite for pain acceptance; (ii) patients were aware of gender norms in healthcare; (iii) social support was not stressed as important to cope with pain. Conclusion: The importance of patients? confidence in the provider?s expertise and patients? awareness about gender norms need consideration in terms of the patient?provider encounter. The value of social support for pain rehabilitation was found to be less important compared with previous research; this should be explored further.