Change Narratives That Elude Quantification: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of How People with Chronic Pain Perceive Pain Rehabilitation

Chronic pain negatively impacts health, well-being, and social participation. Effective rehabilitation often hinges on long-term changes in pain-related perceptions and behaviors. However, there are important gaps in understanding how patients perceive these changes. The present pilot study addresse...

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Main Authors: Timothy H. Wideman, Alice Boom, Jennifer Dell’Elce, Kate Bergeron, Janick Fugère, Xiangying Lu, Geoff Bostick, Heather C. Lambert
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Pain Research and Management
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/9570581
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author Timothy H. Wideman
Alice Boom
Jennifer Dell’Elce
Kate Bergeron
Janick Fugère
Xiangying Lu
Geoff Bostick
Heather C. Lambert
author_facet Timothy H. Wideman
Alice Boom
Jennifer Dell’Elce
Kate Bergeron
Janick Fugère
Xiangying Lu
Geoff Bostick
Heather C. Lambert
author_sort Timothy H. Wideman
collection DOAJ
description Chronic pain negatively impacts health, well-being, and social participation. Effective rehabilitation often hinges on long-term changes in pain-related perceptions and behaviors. However, there are important gaps in understanding how patients perceive these changes. The present pilot study addresses this gap by using qualitative and quantitative methodologies to explore how patients perceive and experience changes in function, participation, and pain-related factors following a chronic pain rehabilitation program. A mixed-method design was used in which the core method was qualitative. Descriptive quantitative data was used to further characterize the sample. Semistructured interviews were conducted 1–6 months following treatment completion. Questionnaires were administered before and after treatment and at follow-up. Interview data was analyzed thematically. Participants’ individual descriptive data was compared to established cut-scores and criteria for change. A major theme of personal growth emerged in the qualitative analysis. Participants also discussed the factors that facilitated personal growth and the ongoing challenges to this growth. The quantitative data revealed limited improvement on measures of pain, disability, catastrophizing, and depression. These findings suggest that, despite limited improvement on treatment-related questionnaires, patients can experience an important and enduring sense of personal growth. Clinical and theoretical implications are discussed.
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spelling doaj-art-3f8e5b9815654fe7b96724b3a9e548da2025-08-20T03:35:53ZengWileyPain Research and Management1203-67651918-15232016-01-01201610.1155/2016/95705819570581Change Narratives That Elude Quantification: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of How People with Chronic Pain Perceive Pain RehabilitationTimothy H. Wideman0Alice Boom1Jennifer Dell’Elce2Kate Bergeron3Janick Fugère4Xiangying Lu5Geoff Bostick6Heather C. Lambert7School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, CanadaSchool of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, CanadaSchool of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, CanadaSchool of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, CanadaSchool of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, CanadaSchool of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, CanadaFaculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, CanadaSchool of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, CanadaChronic pain negatively impacts health, well-being, and social participation. Effective rehabilitation often hinges on long-term changes in pain-related perceptions and behaviors. However, there are important gaps in understanding how patients perceive these changes. The present pilot study addresses this gap by using qualitative and quantitative methodologies to explore how patients perceive and experience changes in function, participation, and pain-related factors following a chronic pain rehabilitation program. A mixed-method design was used in which the core method was qualitative. Descriptive quantitative data was used to further characterize the sample. Semistructured interviews were conducted 1–6 months following treatment completion. Questionnaires were administered before and after treatment and at follow-up. Interview data was analyzed thematically. Participants’ individual descriptive data was compared to established cut-scores and criteria for change. A major theme of personal growth emerged in the qualitative analysis. Participants also discussed the factors that facilitated personal growth and the ongoing challenges to this growth. The quantitative data revealed limited improvement on measures of pain, disability, catastrophizing, and depression. These findings suggest that, despite limited improvement on treatment-related questionnaires, patients can experience an important and enduring sense of personal growth. Clinical and theoretical implications are discussed.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/9570581
spellingShingle Timothy H. Wideman
Alice Boom
Jennifer Dell’Elce
Kate Bergeron
Janick Fugère
Xiangying Lu
Geoff Bostick
Heather C. Lambert
Change Narratives That Elude Quantification: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of How People with Chronic Pain Perceive Pain Rehabilitation
Pain Research and Management
title Change Narratives That Elude Quantification: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of How People with Chronic Pain Perceive Pain Rehabilitation
title_full Change Narratives That Elude Quantification: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of How People with Chronic Pain Perceive Pain Rehabilitation
title_fullStr Change Narratives That Elude Quantification: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of How People with Chronic Pain Perceive Pain Rehabilitation
title_full_unstemmed Change Narratives That Elude Quantification: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of How People with Chronic Pain Perceive Pain Rehabilitation
title_short Change Narratives That Elude Quantification: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of How People with Chronic Pain Perceive Pain Rehabilitation
title_sort change narratives that elude quantification a mixed methods analysis of how people with chronic pain perceive pain rehabilitation
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/9570581
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