The lived experiences of physiotherapists in their encounters with people with chronic pain: a phenomenological enquiry

Shelley Barlow

doi:10.25918/thesis.182

This study investigates and explicates the lived experiences of physiotherapists in their clinical encounters with people with chronic pain. A phenomenological approach to interviewing physiotherapists who work in public outpatients was used. The methodology draws on the Husserlian tradition of descriptive phenomenological enquiry for explication of the physiotherapists’ experiences. The structural approaches of three Husserlian-influenced phenomenologists to descriptive phenomenology was used for analysis and synthesis of participants’ experiences. Each phenomenologist provided the structure to explicate the unfolding of experience over time. The first round of interviews was explicated using Moustakas’ version of Husserlian descriptive phenomenology. The meta-themes of challenge, confidence and commitment described the enduring nature of how and what participants experienced working with people with chronic pain. The second round of interviews was explicated with Giorgi’s methodological structure. The phenomenological psychological elements of participants’ experiences in relation to the phenomenon were revealed. The time between interviews provided an opportunity for the physiotherapists to reflect on their experiences, allowing them to reference their own experiences, rather than placing the experience of the person with chronic pain before their own. Todres’ descriptive methodological structure used for rounds three and four revealed the intersubjective nature of the clinical encounter and how it unfolds. This longitudinal study revealed how enduring and emerging elements of the clinical encounter co-exist. The enduring theme of challenge, coexisted with confidence, commitment, courage, and compassion. Initially challenge dominated the experience, often disrupting the therapeutic relationship and preventing further engagement with people with chronic pain. Being immersed in a field of trauma, with reduced psychological safety, was largely unrecognised by participants until they reflected on their experiences. Some participants, by reflecting on their work with people with chronic pain, recognised and appreciated their responses to people with chronic pain was a source of their own discomfort. Confronting and understanding their own responses allowed some participants to transform and transcend their previous negative experiences. A framework for working with people with chronic pain is presented. It recognises the value of a relational approach to working with people with chronic pain and the importance of self-developmental processes to help transcend enduring challenges. The findings of this study have implications for health professionals working with people with chronic pain in complex and potentially overwhelming situations.

The lived experiences of physiotherapists in their encounters with people with chronic pain: a phenomenological enquiry

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The lived experiences of physiotherapists in their encounters with people with chronic pain: a phenomenological enquiry

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