Self-care follows from compassionate care - chronic pain patients’ experience of integrative
rehabilitation
Engelsk titel: Self-care follows from compassionate care - chronic pain patients’ experience of integrative
rehabilitation
Läs online
Författare:
Arman, Maria
;
Hök, Johanna
Email: Maria.arman@ki.se
Språk: Eng
Antal referenser: 32
Dokumenttyp:
Artikel
UI-nummer: 16083049
Sammanfattning
The long-term outcome of any intervention for people suffering from chronic pain relies on the
patient's ability for self-care. This study explores patient experiences of self-care in relation to a
rehabilitation programme at an anthroposophic clinic. In a qualitative interview study with a
hermeneutic approach, individual interviews were conducted, recorded, transcribed verbatim and
analysed. Interviews were conducted with ten women who were taking part in a year-long
rehabilitation programme for chronic pain and overlapping illness. The women told stories of
suffering with a focus on lives that were not functioning well. In this context, pain is like secondary.
For many, the experience of loving care at the clinic became a turning point, a chance to be
vulnerable, to be recognised, to reflect and to begin life anew. Signs of self-care could then be
witnessed. The women described a process whereby they regained contact with their bodies and
their fellow human beings; they were able to identify their needs and when to stand up for them.
Everyday life at the clinic is guided by universal aspects of love, life and meanings. The care gives
patients glimpses of a move towards community in contrast to past isolation, towards love in contrast
to past alienation, and towards joy and inspiration in contrast to past suffering. Through receiving
caritative and compassionate care, these women were able to identify their needs as a first step
towards self-care. In the context of chronic pain, self-care needs to be more than advice, education
and training. Health can be attained when the sufferer experiences what it is to be cared for. This
study supports the potential of a caritative caring culture to help patients participate in a
compassionate community both with others and with the self. This forms the basis for the
reawakening of their natural self-care ability. Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons.