Recognition at the Heart of the Complex Situations Experienced by People With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain.

Abstract

Objective: Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMSP) is frequent in chronic diseases, decreasing the quality of life of these patients. In a survey conducted in Belgium in 2019, chronic pain was named by patients as the main factor of complexity in their lives. The objective of our research was to provide elements to understand why and how CMSP contributes to the complexity of these people's lives.

Design: Qualitative study through semi-structured interviews.

Setting: The study was conducted in Belgium with French-speaking individuals. The interviews took place at the university, in a teaching hospital, in private clinics or in individuals' homes.

Participants: We included 24 individuals with CMSP and living complex situations. The recruitment was made in two phases in agreement with the grounded theory methodology and to reach the saturation of ideas.

Results: The complexity experienced by people with CMSP turns around the notion of recognition, which can be broken down into 3 spheres: intimate, social and legal. The poor quality of listening and the fragmented vision of aid and care professionals generate a feeling of loneliness and incomprehension in the face of illness. The unsuitability of the world of work, the opacity of protocols and the attitude of medical experts reveal inequalities in access to recognition for immigrants and people of low socio-professional status.

Conclusion: The complexity of the situations experienced could be reduced by implementing health policies that facilitate: legal recognition of this illness; adaptability in the workplace; raising awareness about pain mechanisms; the risks of stigmatization and the need of interprofessional collaboration.

Patient or public contribution: Patients and the public participated in the dissemination of our research and were able to help us with recruitment through social networks (call for participation published on Facebook by the association 'Aidants proches') or word of mouth. The presentation of preliminary results at conferences as well as the publication of a public article in Belgian journals (http://www.lejournaldumedecin.com/magazine/douleurs-chroniques-un-veritable-parcours-du-combattant/article-normal-63055.html?cookie_check=1671467500%22) facilitated the contact with the public.