Multidisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Programs in Iceland: An Exploration and Description of the Short-term and Long-term Effects

• Main Author: Skúladóttir, Hafdís
• Other Authors: Herdís Sveinsdóttir, Hjúkrunarfræðideild (HÍ), Faculty of Nursing (UI), Heilbrigðisvísindasvið (HÍ), School of Health Sciences (UI), Háskóli Íslands, University of Iceland
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: University of Iceland, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Nursing 2022
• Subjects: Verkjameðferð; Endurhæfing; Chronic pain; Sleep quality; Rehabilitation; Health-related quality of life; Doktorsritgerðir; Hveragerði; Kristnes; Iceland
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/3251

Aim: The overall aim of the thesis was to explore and describe the short- and long-term effects of three multidisciplinary pain rehabilitation programs on pain severity and pain interference and the long-term effects on pain self management, sleep quality, well-being, health, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Content of the thesis: This thesis consists of three original papers. Paper I comprises a phenomenological study, while Papers II and III present results from longitudinal prospective cohort studies. People in chronic pain who were on a waiting list for multidisciplinary pain rehabilitation at one of three centres in Iceland – Reykjalundur, Kristnes and Rehabilitation and Health Clinic at Hveragerði– were invited to participate. The program lasted between four and seven weeks, with data collected pre-treatment, at program completion, three months after program completion and in a one-year follow-up. Methods: Paper I was a phenomenological study that employed the Vancouver School of Doing Phenomenology. Eleven participants were interviewed, with 11 interviews conducted pre-treatment and 10 occurring three months after the participants had completed the intervention. Paper II was a longitudinal prospective cohort study with questionnaires filled out pre treatment, at completion and at one-year follow-up. Paper III was a longitudinal prospective cohort study with questionnaires completed pre treatment and at one-year follow-up. Results: Most participants were women aged 20–69 (M = 47.3) who were married or living with a partner. Paper I: The overarching theme was the journey of breaking the vicious circle of chronic pain. Prior to attending rehabilitation, the participants were in survival mode, stuck in a vicious circle of chronic pain. They used a variety of strategies to relieve and conceal their pain. Reaching out for professional help was a positive turning point. Whilst attending the pain rehabilitation program, participants learned to deconstruct their habitual but inefficient ways of dealing ...