Open AccessEvaluating health‐care: the perspectives of sufferers with upper limb pain
Author(s) -
Calnan M.,
Wainwright D.,
O'Neill C.,
Winterbottom A.,
Watkins C.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
health expectations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.314
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1369-7625
pISSN - 1369-6513
DOI - 10.1111/j.1369-7625.2005.00323.x
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , health care , sample (material) , population , nursing , medicine , family medicine , psychology , alternative medicine , pain management , physical therapy , environmental health , geography , political science , chemistry , archaeology , chromatography , law , pathology
Background and aims There is considerable uncertainty over the diagnosis, treatment and management of upper limb pain, which has implications for patient care. Research into patient experiences and evaluation of health‐care has been neglected and the study presented here aims to fill this gap. Methods A two‐staged, mixed methodology was adopted. Phase 1 involved a postal survey of a random sample ( n = 2781) of the working age population (25–64) of an area in south‐west England. Phase 2 consisted of follow‐up, informal face‐to‐face interviews with a purposive sample of 47 informants identified, according to pre‐defined criteria, from the survey sample. Results Our data showed that concerns about the effectiveness of treatments for alleviating pain were fundamental to users’ evaluations of both orthodox and non‐orthodox health‐care. This took priority over the need for a diagnosis and other information. There was a general recognition that the treatments available were, at least, only partially effective and the pragmatic approach led some to eventually withdraw from both orthodox care and complementary and alternative medicines (CAM). Conclusion Patients’ priorities for health‐care, in this context, were perceived to involve the provision of treatments which alleviated pain and were safe and painless. Orthodox and non‐orthodox care needed to be more closely integrated into primary care services.