Toye, F., Belton, J., Hannink, E., Seers, Kate and Barker, K. (2021) A healing journey with chronic pain – a meta-ethnography synthesising 195 qualitative studies. Pain Medicine, 22 (6). pp. 1333-1344. doi:10.1093/pm/pnaa373 ISSN 1526-2375.

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Abstract

Objective
There is a large body of research exploring what it means for a person to live with chronic pain. However, existing research does not help us understand what it means to recover. We aimed to identify qualitative research that explored the experience of living with chronic pain published since 2012 and to understand the process of recovery.

Design
A synthesis of qualitative research using meta-ethnography.

Methods
We used the seven stages of meta-ethnography. We systematically searched for qualitative research, published since 2012, that explored adults’ experiences of living with, and being treated for, chronic pain. We used constant comparison to distill the essence of ideas into themes and developed a conceptual model.

Results
We screened 1,328 titles and included 195 studies. Our conceptual model indicates that validation and reconnection can empower a person with chronic pain to embark on a journey of healing. To embark on this journey requires commitment, energy, and support.

Conclusions
The innovation of our study is to conceptualize healing as an ongoing and iterating journey rather than a destination. Health interventions for chronic pain would usefully focus on validating pain through meaningful and acceptable explanations; validating patients by listening to and valuing their stories; encouraging patients to connect with a meaningful sense of self, to be kind to themselves, and to explore new possibilities for the future; and facilitating safe reconnection with the social world. This could make a real difference to people living with chronic pain who are on their own healing journeys.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine R Medicine > RB Pathology
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences > Social Science & Systems in Health (SSSH) Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Chronic pain , Healing, Chronic pain -- Patients -- Treatment , Ethnology, Qualitative research
Journal or Publication Title:	Pain Medicine
Publisher:	Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
ISSN:	1526-2375
Official Date:	June 2021
Dates:	Date Event June 2021 Published 5 March 2020 Available 24 September 2020 Accepted
Volume:	22
Number:	6
Page Range:	pp. 1333-1344
DOI:	10.1093/pm/pnaa373
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Reuse Statement (publisher, data, author rights):	This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Francine Toye, PhD, Joletta Belton, MSc, Erin Hannink, DPT, Kate Seers, DSc, Karen Barker, PhD, A Healing Journey with Chronic Pain: A Meta-Ethnography Synthesizing 195 Qualitative Studies, Pain Medicine, 2021;, pnaa373, https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnaa373 which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnaa373 this article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Date of first compliant deposit:	9 October 2020
Date of first compliant Open Access:	5 March 2022
Related URLs:	Publisher

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