Article

OBJECTIVE: To explore patients' experiences of activity, participation and
quality of life one year after a rehabilitation programme for chronic pain, and
to determine the impact of the programme on their current life situation. DESIGN:
Qualitative study with emergent design. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The 14 informants
were patients with chronic pain who had participated in rehabilitation at a pain
clinic. Individual semi-structured interviews were analysed with inductive,
qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The core theme "Change is possible" and
the themes "A life ruled by pain" (the situation before rehabilitation), "The
penny's dropped" (experience during rehabilitation) and "Live a life, not only
survive" (the situation at the time of the interviews) emerged from the data.
These themes represent a process through which, during and after rehabilitation,
the informants integrated earlier disabling symptoms into a functioning
lifestyle. CONCLUSION: Individuals living with disabling chronic pain can create
a better life by integrating their illness. A prerequisite is that healthcare
professionals empower patients to develop the strength to take responsibility for
their daily lives. This process is facilitated by skills to reduce pain and
handle life, plus support from significant others.

Langue : ANGLAIS