What does coping mean to the worker with pain-related disability? A qualitative study

Purpose: Pain coping is important in health outcomes. In the current literature, pain coping usually means those goal-directed strategies to manage pain. The study goal was to explore what personal meaning "coping" has for work-disabled individuals in pain. Method: Qualitative, in depth interviews with follow-up verification interviews were conducted with 13 volunteers who were off work and in rehabilitation for chronic pain from a musculoskeletal injury. The two main questions were: (1) How did participants understand the term "coping with pain"; and (2) how did they come to this understanding of coping. The theoretical approach was social phenomenology and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: The dominant theme was that pain coping is an intrinsic and life-defining attitude and belief. This understanding primarily arose through early modeling by parents and significant others. Secondary theme was that coping is practical strategies to manage or eliminate pain. This arose through more current interactions with health care providers and others in the social network. Conclusions: Researchers' and clinicians' view of coping may not always match the views held by individuals with chronic pain. This might impact on the effectiveness of interventions designed to modify coping behaviors, and alternative ways of intervening may be needed.