Exploring communication in families affected by parental chronic pain: An occupational perspective

Abstract

Background

Family communication about pain is an important therapeutic target when a parent lives with chronic pain. Occupational therapy literature about communication in families affected by parental chronic pain is currently lacking.

Aims/Objectives

To bring an occupational perspective to communication within families affected by parental chronic pain, to generate insights for practice.

Materials and Methods

Five families (total n = 19 family members) were recruited into this collective case study. The gathered data included interviews, observations, and personal documents/artefacts. A cross-case analysis of similarities and differences between families was conducted to distil insights about the relationship between occupation and communication about parental pain.

Results

Each family develops its own style of communicating about a parent’s pain. On a day-to-day basis, pain-related communication is prompted by experienced, observed and/or anticipated occupational disruption brought about by parental pain.

Conclusions

Occupational disruption and occupational responses need to be components of interest, when designing assessments and interventions targeted at communication in families affected by parental chronic pain.

Significance

The findings from this study point to the importance of communication through occupation in families affected by parental chronic pain and suggest novel targets for occupational therapy intervention.

Keywords:

• Assessment
• chronic pain
• communication
• family
• occupational therapy
• parent

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge Mary Schollum for her input with proofreading and Doug and Zoe White for their support throughout the research process.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Notes

1 At the outset of the study, we asked families to consent to both interview and observation. The need for observations was later changed to be optional, as it was felt to be hindering recruitment efforts.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Freemasons New Zealand through a Post Graduate Scholarship; and the Auckland University of New Zealand through a Doctoral Fees Scholarship.