Dissertation
The experience of chronic pain, opioid treatment, and counseling interventions
University of Iowa
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
Spring 2020
DOI: 10.17077/etd.005340
Abstract
This dissertation served to educate providers working with individuals living with chronic pain toward a better understanding about lived experiences with chronic pain. Understanding came from the voices of the individuals themselves. Included in this discussion is how counseling services played a role in those lived experiences. Additionally, how recent management of medications – opioids specifically – had impacted those lived experiences was included.
A phenomenological study with semi-structured, face-to-face interviews of twelve participants was conducted to find themes related to the above topics. Thematic analysis from Rossman and Rallis (2017) was infused with the phenomenological research provided by Moustakas (1994) to uncover these themes. In addition to the face-to-face interviews, four participants completed REDCap journal entries and two participants participated in a visually blinded Zoom Focus Group. The research question that guided this study was: What are the lived experiences of individuals living with chronic pain within the context of managed opioid medication treatment and counseling interventions?
Four final themes were derived from the data: “Everything Comes at a Price,” “Do They Think I’m a Faker? “It All Seems to Help,” and “Hamster Wheel.” “Everything Comes at a Price” included one sub-theme. “Do They Think I’m a Faker?” included seven sub-themes. “It All Seems to Help” included one sub-theme, and “Hamster Wheel” included five sub-themes. Derived themes could be used by multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary team providers to influence client care. Themes provided further understanding of the lived experiences of individuals living with chronic pain. The hope of this researcher was that this influence on client care produced more efficient, effective, and holistic treatment for individuals living with chronic pain.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The experience of chronic pain, opioid treatment, and counseling interventions
- Creators
- Carol Seehusen
- Contributors
- David Duys (Advisor)Armeda Wojciak (Advisor)Susannah Wood (Committee Member)John Wadsworth (Committee Member)Noel Estrada-Hernandez (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Rehabilitation and Counselor Education
- Date degree season
- Spring 2020
- DOI
- 10.17077/etd.005340
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- xi, 216 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2020 Carol Seehusen
- Language
- English
- Description illustrations
- color illustrations
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 180-201).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
Counseling is dependent on the understanding of individual client’s unique lived experiences. No two clients are the same. “Cookie cutter” approaches to chronic pain treatment - counseling or otherwise - can be harmful to the individual being treated. These “cookie cutter” approaches to chronic pain treatment could undermine the necessary trust between individual and provider. “Cookie cutter” approaches to treatment could also lead to providers appearing dismissive, unempathetic, or uncaring.
Qualitative research is an important research methodology within counselor education and other healthcare services. Qualitative research allows for the voices of individual participants to be heard. Qualitative research allows for researchers to produce narratives. These narratives contain the personal and unique stories of the individual participants within the study.
These narratives - the voices of individual participants - could then be used to inform healthcare policy, treatment approaches for chronic pain, or management of chronic pain. The purpose of the present study was to examine the lived experiences of individuals living with chronic pain. Specifically, this study examined the perceptions of participants on how counseling interventions and managed opioid medication management were perceived as treatment options for chronic pain.
- Academic Unit
- Counselor Education
- Record Identifier
- 9983949593302771
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