Article

The aim of this study was to examine the correspondence between
qualitative and quantitative methods of coding experience of pain reported by
participants with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. METHODS: A mapping grid was
produced to record the correspondence between subthemes that emerged from
thematic analysis of interviews with 24 participants with knee OA, and from
questionnaire items which were used in a study of 192 knee OA participants. Items
were rated according to their degree of correspondence between subthemes and
questionnaire items, and an overall correspondence score was produced for each
subtheme and questionnaire measure. RESULTS: The subthemes that corresponded well
with the questionnaire items were those that related to socio-emotional
functioning, the overall experience of pain and the impact of pain on physical
functioning. The questionnaire items did not relate to participants' knowledge
about their condition and their experience of the medical system. CONCLUSIONS:
The study indicated that many aspects of pain experience reported by patients in
qualitative interviews are also assessed by commonly used questionnaire outcome
measures for people with pain. However, although participants reported that
knowledge about their condition and their experience of the medical system were
important aspects of the overall pain experience, these are rarely used as
outcome measures. Questionnaires that address these additional aspects of the
pain experience could be useful to further evaluate the experience of pain and
may help to address important concerns raised by patients with OA of the knee.

Langue : ANGLAIS