Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/51457
Title: An exploration of attitudes towards psychological interventions for pain management amongst Maltese pain chronic sufferers
Authors: Portelli, Pamela
Keywords: Pain -- Treatment
Chronic pain -- Psychological aspects
Grounded theory
Chronic pain -- Management
Chronic pain -- Patients -- Family relationships
Chronic pain -- Patients -- Religious life
Issue Date: 2019
Publisher: University of Malta. Faculty of Health Sciences
Citation: Portelli, P. (2019). An exploration of attitudes towards psychological interventions for pain management amongst Maltese pain chronic sufferers. Malta Journal of Health Sciences, 6(2), 24-35.
Abstract: Chronic pain is a living reality for many individuals. Research reveals that individuals are often reluctant to seek psychological help. Chronic pain research and attitudes towards psychological treatment among a Maltese chronic pain population is solely lacking. This study sought to explore attitudes towards psychological interventions for the management of chronic pain amongst persons with chronic pain. A grounded theory methodology was adopted. Interviews were conducted with 21 participants. Five superordinate categories comprising 12 sub-categories were generated. An attitude model reflecting inter-relationships between categories was developed. The theory entitled ‘Readiness to Try What Ever it Takes’ reveals that a number of facilitating factors contribute to the formation of positive attitudes to psychological help-seeking. Although the study did not reveal polarized views in relation to gender, impeding factors comprising negative affect, lacking resources and stigma hinder help-seeking behaviour. Most participants were unfamiliar with psychological services for pain management. Findings also indicate that individuals who perceive a link between psychological factors and pain are not necessarily more inclined to access psychological help, mostly because help-seeking behaviour is influenced by an array of psychosocial factors which are difficult to quantify. Service uptake can be enhanced by adopting a bio-psychosocial framework incorporating cultural factors and a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment involving not just health care professionals, but also significant others who influence the chronic pain sufferers’ decision-making, including family members and the clergy.
URI: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/51457
Appears in Collections:MJHS, Volume 6, Issue 2
MJHS, Volume 6, Issue 2
Scholarly Works - FacSoWPsy

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