AN INTERPRETATIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF CHRONIC PAIN EXPERIENCES AMID THE OPIOID CRISIS

Abstract

For many individuals with chronic pain, opioid therapy is the only safe, effective, and affordable option for pain management. This study used interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore the experiences of four Canadian females managing chronic non-cancer pain to better understand how opioid-related systems-level initiatives impact chronic pain management. Participants provided insight into how the opioid crisis impacted their access to chronic pain treatment, relationships and interactions with medical providers, and their physical and mental health. The results of this study indicate that the physical, mental, and social wellbeing of individuals using opioid therapy to manage chronic pain is significantly impacted by systems- level initiatives such as prescribing guidelines and prescription drug monitoring programs. Further, this study found that systems-level initiatives further exacerbate the institutionalized stigma commonly experienced by individuals with chronic pain. Lastly, this study supports the necessity of further research on how health policy impacts the chronic pain community.