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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Self-care of chronic musculoskeletal pain – experiences and attitudes of patients and health care providers

Authors: Irena Kovačević, Višnja Majerić Kogler, Tihana Magdić Turković, Lidija Fumić Dunkić, Željko Ivanec, Davorina Petek

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Self-care is often the first choice for people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Self-care includes the use of non-prescription medications with no doctor’s supervision, as well as the use of other modern and traditional treatment methods with no consultation of the health care provider. Self-care may have positive effects on the successful outcome of a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences and attitudes of patients and health care providers to the self-care of chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Methods

Qualitative Phenomenological study, where the data were collected by the method of an audio-taped interview in 15 patients at the outpatient clinic for pain management and in 20 health care providers involved in the treatment of those patients. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed by principles of Interpretative Thematic Analysis.

Results

Topics identified in patients: a) positive aspects of self-care, b) a need for pain self-care, c) social aspects of pain self-care. Topics identified in health care providers: a) aspects of self-care, b) a need for self-care c) risks of self-care.
Most of patients have positive attitude to self-care and this is the first step to pain management and to care for itself. The most frequent factors influencing decision about the self-care are heavy pain, unavailability of the doctor, long awaiting time for the therapy, or ineffectiveness of methods of conventional medicine. The health care providers believe that self-care of chronic musculoskeletal pain may be a patient’s contribution to clinical treatment. However, good awareness of methods used is important in this context, to avoid adverse effects of self-care.

Conclusion

Patients understand the self-care of musculoskeletal pain as an individually adjusted treatment and believe in its effectiveness. Health care providers support self-care as an adjunction to clinical management only, and think that self-care of musculoskeletal pain acts as a placebo, with a short-lived effect on chronic musculoskeletal pain.
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Metadata
Title
Self-care of chronic musculoskeletal pain – experiences and attitudes of patients and health care providers
Authors
Irena Kovačević
Višnja Majerić Kogler
Tihana Magdić Turković
Lidija Fumić Dunkić
Željko Ivanec
Davorina Petek
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-018-1997-7

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