From “Non-encounters” to autonomic agency. Conceptions of patients with low back pain about their encounters in the health care system

Low back pain is a considerable health problem which affects people around the world, causing major healthcare costs. The use of qualitative research methods enables us to describe and understand patients’ experience of, and attitudes to, healthcare. The aim of the present phenomenographic study was...

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Main Authors: Holopainen, R., Piirainen, A., Heinonen, A., Karppinen, J., O'Sullivan, Peter
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2018
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/70083
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author Holopainen, R.
Piirainen, A.
Heinonen, A.
Karppinen, J.
O'Sullivan, Peter
author_facet Holopainen, R.
Piirainen, A.
Heinonen, A.
Karppinen, J.
O'Sullivan, Peter
author_sort Holopainen, R.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Low back pain is a considerable health problem which affects people around the world, causing major healthcare costs. The use of qualitative research methods enables us to describe and understand patients’ experience of, and attitudes to, healthcare. The aim of the present phenomenographic study was to identify and describe the contextual nature of the conceptions of patients with low back pain of their encounters in the HCS. Seventeen patients with chronic or episodic low back pain classified as “high risk” were interviewed in open recall interviews, using videos of patients’ initial physiotherapy sessions that had been recorded previously. The data were analysed using the phenomenographic method. Patients’ conceptions of their clinical journey were formulated by a variety of themes: convincing care, lifestyle change, participation, reciprocality and ethicality of encounters. The themes varied in four categories: “non-encounters”, seeking support, empowering collaboration and autonomic agency. The results showed a range of clinical interactions – from very negative and disempowering, to empowering and life changing. The key differences between the first and second categories were professionals “being present” and patients starting to understand their low back pain. Between the second and third category, the key aspects were strong therapeutic alliance and the active participation of the patient. Finally, the key differences between the third and fourth categories were the patient being in charge and taking responsibility while knowing that help was available if required. The results may help in improving the care of patients with low back pain.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-700832019-01-24T02:56:46Z From “Non-encounters” to autonomic agency. Conceptions of patients with low back pain about their encounters in the health care system Holopainen, R. Piirainen, A. Heinonen, A. Karppinen, J. O'Sullivan, Peter Low back pain is a considerable health problem which affects people around the world, causing major healthcare costs. The use of qualitative research methods enables us to describe and understand patients’ experience of, and attitudes to, healthcare. The aim of the present phenomenographic study was to identify and describe the contextual nature of the conceptions of patients with low back pain of their encounters in the HCS. Seventeen patients with chronic or episodic low back pain classified as “high risk” were interviewed in open recall interviews, using videos of patients’ initial physiotherapy sessions that had been recorded previously. The data were analysed using the phenomenographic method. Patients’ conceptions of their clinical journey were formulated by a variety of themes: convincing care, lifestyle change, participation, reciprocality and ethicality of encounters. The themes varied in four categories: “non-encounters”, seeking support, empowering collaboration and autonomic agency. The results showed a range of clinical interactions – from very negative and disempowering, to empowering and life changing. The key differences between the first and second categories were professionals “being present” and patients starting to understand their low back pain. Between the second and third category, the key aspects were strong therapeutic alliance and the active participation of the patient. Finally, the key differences between the third and fourth categories were the patient being in charge and taking responsibility while knowing that help was available if required. The results may help in improving the care of patients with low back pain. 2018 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/70083 10.1002/msc.1230 restricted
spellingShingle Holopainen, R.
Piirainen, A.
Heinonen, A.
Karppinen, J.
O'Sullivan, Peter
From “Non-encounters” to autonomic agency. Conceptions of patients with low back pain about their encounters in the health care system
title From “Non-encounters” to autonomic agency. Conceptions of patients with low back pain about their encounters in the health care system
title_full From “Non-encounters” to autonomic agency. Conceptions of patients with low back pain about their encounters in the health care system
title_fullStr From “Non-encounters” to autonomic agency. Conceptions of patients with low back pain about their encounters in the health care system
title_full_unstemmed From “Non-encounters” to autonomic agency. Conceptions of patients with low back pain about their encounters in the health care system
title_short From “Non-encounters” to autonomic agency. Conceptions of patients with low back pain about their encounters in the health care system
title_sort from “non-encounters” to autonomic agency. conceptions of patients with low back pain about their encounters in the health care system
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/70083