High-impact chronic pain : barriers and facilitators identified by Western Cape primary healthcare physiotherapists

Date
2023-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY: Purpose of the study: The barriers and facilitators to the provision of effective care for individuals with high-impact chronic pain (HICP) identified by physiotherapists working in the Western Cape primary healthcare (PHC) setting were described to inform the development of curricula, policy, and practise of physiotherapists within the South African PHC system. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted utilising semi-structured interviews of eight purposively selected physiotherapists from Western Cape PHC facilities. Inductive thematic analysis was implemented to interpret the data. Findings: HICP is a complex and disabling condition that adds to physiotherapists’ burden in PHC. Participants identified that patient-centred approaches and collaborative strategies were facilitators to care, while time, patient, systemic, environmental, and physiotherapist factors were barriers. Participant’s identified needs can be summarised as relating to issues of time, knowledge, and support. Conclusion: HICP is a complex and disabling condition that increases the burden on physiotherapists in PHC. Participants recognised that a patient-centred and collaborative approach allows them to better treat these individuals. Multifaceted barriers to offering effective care could be overcome by providing resources such as more physiotherapists, rehabilitation-proficient managers, and pain-specific training in the PHC setting alongside facilitating physiotherapist skills such as innovative practice and networking with existing support structures.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Doel van die studie: Die hindernisse en fasiliteerders tot die verskaffing van effektiewe sorg vir individue met hoe-impak chroniese pyn (HICP) wat geidentifiseer is deur fisioterapeute wat in die Wes-Kaapse primere gesondheidsorg (PGS) omgewing werk, is beskryf om die ontwikkeling van kurrikulums, beleid en praktyk van fisioterapeute binne die Suid-Afrikaanse PGS-stelsel, in te lig. Metodes: 'n Kwalitatiewe beskrywende studie is uitgevoer deur gebruik te maak van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude van agt doelgerig geselekteerde fisioterapeute van Wes-Kaapse PGS-fasiliteite. Induktiewe tematiese analise is geimplementeer om die data te interpreteer. Bevindinge: HICP is 'n komplekse en beperkende toestand wat bydra tot fisioterapeute se las in PGS. Deelnemers het geidentifiseer dat pasientgesentreerde benaderings en samewerkende strategiee fasiliteerders was om te sorg, terwyl tyd-, pasient-, sistemiese, omgewings- en fisioterapeutfaktore hindernisse was. Deelnemers se geidentifiseerde behoeftes kan opgesom word as die wat verband hou met kwessies van tyd, kennis en ondersteuning. Gevolgtrekking: HICP is 'n komplekse en beperkende toestand wat die las op fisioterapeute in PGS verhoog. Deelnemers het erken dat 'n pasientgesentreerde en samewerkende benadering hulle in staat stel om hierdie individue beter te behandel. Veelvlakkige struikelblokke vir die aanbieding van effektiewe sorg kan oorkom word deur hulpbronne soos meer fisioterapeute, rehabilitasie-vaardige bestuurders en pynspesifieke opleiding in die PGS-omgewing te verskaf, tesame met die fasilitering van fisioterapeutvaardighede soos innoverende praktyk en netwerkvorming met bestaande ondersteuningstrukture.
Description
Thesis (MHumanRehabSt)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.
Keywords
Chronic pain; disability; high-impact chronic pain; primary healthcare; person-centred care; physiotherapy; South Africa
Citation