Article

There are very few studies on healthcare providers' experiences of
delivering treatment for chronic pain in a Southeast Asian setting. The aims of
this study are to understand the experiences of professionals delivering
treatment for people with chronic pain in Singapore and identify possible
barriers to psychological treatment for this condition within the broader
experiences of these professionals. METHOD: Healthcare professionals with at
least 1-year experience treating chronic pain were recruited and purposefully
sampled. Fifteen inductive semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore
healthcare professionals' experiences of treating people with chronic pain.
Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.
RESULTS: Four main themes were identified: 'System Barriers', 'Core Beliefs and
management of Chronic Pain', 'Engaging Patients in treatment' and 'Creating
Awareness for Chronic Pain Management'. Professionals trained in a
multidisciplinary approach to pain management were seen as rare. Professionals
who could refer patients for psychological treatment do not refer due to costs,
and their perception that patients may lack understanding of such a treatment.
CONCLUSION: Reducing barriers in the access to psychological treatment in
settings like Singapore will require a multifaceted approach. Implications for
Rehabilitation A multifaceted approach is required to reduce barriers to
psychological treatment for chronic pain in settings like Singapore. Educating
healthcare professionals on the need for a multidisciplinary approach to chronic
pain could help in reducing misconceptions and increase understanding of the
benefits of psychological approaches. Utilizing both media and technological
platforms as a means to facilitate psychological treatment uptake for chronic
pain may be a way forward for a technological savvy generation.

Langue : ANGLAIS