Coping with Chronic Pain After Attending Cognitive Behaviourally Based Pain Management Programme.

Objectives: The main objective was to explore the process of becoming a self-therapist after attending a pain management programme. In particular, what helped and hindered the process of becoming a self-therapist. Design: The study involved a retrospective semi-structured interview design. Collected data was analysed using the qualitative methodology of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Participants: Participants were recruited from two pain management programmes over a period of six months. All had completed the programme within the last 6-12 months. Analysis was based on 11 participant interviews, ten females and one male, aged 36-78 years. Results: Two major themes emerged from the analysis. ‘Regaining control of pain’ stemmed from the education base of the pain management programme and consisted of three sub-themes. It described participants gaining an understanding of pain, obtaining and utilising the knowledge of when and how to use strategies to cope with pain and taking responsibility to manage their pain instead of relying on health professionals. The second theme o f‘Discovering a new role’ stemmed from a sense of belonging and acceptance gained from the group and consisted of four sub-themes. It described a reduced position of isolation and loneliness, acknowledging the validity of pain and accepting pain as part of their lives, changing expectations and being able to assert their own rights and needs. Both the main themes were intertwined and dynamic, and constantly revisited to allow further consolidation each time. Conclusions: Analysis highlighted several clinical implications around issues of acceptance of chronic pain, perceptions of control, affects of pain severity and the importance of group belonging. Areas for need of further research are also highlighted