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The experience of patients admitted to hospital with acute low back pain: a qualitative study
Author(s) -
ElHaddad Carlos,
Damodaran Arvin,
Patrick McNeil H.,
Hu Wendy
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of rheumatic diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1756-185X
pISSN - 1756-1841
DOI - 10.1111/1756-185x.12870
Subject(s) - medicine , learned helplessness , thematic analysis , qualitative research , health care , patient experience , physical therapy , nursing , clinical psychology , social science , sociology , economics , economic growth
Aim To understand the patient experience of being admitted to hospital with acute low back pain ( LBP ), with a view to developing suggestions for care and LBP management guidelines. Method Interpretive phenomenological analysis ( IPA ) was adopted to examine semi‐structured interviews from patients admitted to hospital with acute LBP . Sampling continued until thematic saturation was reached ( n = 14). Data were analyzed using the Framework Method, so that data from multiple participants could be systematically summarized, compared, and analyzed. Results Four themes were identified: pain and helplessness, desire for validation, interactions with healthcare teams, and a return to pre‐morbid identity and roles. Patients' initial presentation to hospital was characterized by severe pain, disability and difficulty in communicating their illness experience. Patients expected doctors to investigate for an underlying cause of the back pain. To recover, they were required to navigate a system they did not understand, interacting with healthcare workers who seemed to operate independently rather than as a team. Patients viewed medical treatment as a means of returning to pre‐morbid activities of daily living, roles and relationships. Using these themes, a model of the inpatient journey was developed. Conclusion We have described new patient insights which highlight how the hospital environment adds unique challenges to managing acute LBP . Several suggestions for acute LBP management guidelines are made: developing lay summaries for patients, including methods for communicating the team structure and roles to patients, and ensuring all members of treating teams are educated to ensure guidelines are consistently implemented.