“Many obstacles along the way”: follow-up of rehabilitation plans after multimodal pain rehabilitation

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the content of rehabilitation plans after multimodal rehabilitation (MMR) for chronic pain patients, focusing on occupation-oriented measures. A secondary aim was to study how the individual rehabilitation plans had been carried out and implemented during 1 year after MMR. A multiple methods approach with quantitative and qualitative data was used. The quantitative part was descriptive and examined whether the rehabilitation plans were carried out, the number of recommendations in each plan and the type of measures suggested. The qualitative part constituted a content analysis of interviews. Vocational rehabilitation was the second most common recommendation for the whole group. The analysis of the interviews resulted in seven categories divided into two main categories: impeding factors and facilitating factors for rehabilitation. The compliance of professionals and external parties with the patients’ rehabilitation plans, and the patients’ positive experience of their change in behaviour, contributed to the completion of the rehabilitation plans. In conclusion, lack of follow-up from the professionals and negative bodily signals inhibited the completion of rehabilitation. Flexibility on the part of professionals and external actors regarding patients’ rehabilitation plans as well as their own positive experiences of striving for change facilitated rehabilitation.

Keywords:

• Musculoskeletal
• pain
• qualitative research
• rehabilitation
• team work