Chronic pain and hope, v. 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Qualitative study with chronic pain patients on the role of hope in their lives.
IRAS ID
266407
Contact name
Lena Maria Lorenz
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Durham
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 30 days
Research summary
This study draws on a bio-psycho-socio-spiritual understanding of health and explores the understanding and meaning of hope for individuals living with chronic pain. Philosophy, theology and psychology suggest certain characteristics and dynamics of hope which have been turned into a guideline for interviews. In these narrative interviews people suffering from chronic pain caused by rheumatological diseases will reflect on and share about the role of hope for their everyday life and their perception of the body in pain. In terms of study cohort, this research is distinct from previous studies because it does not consider hope in the context of end-of-life/palliative care but looks at living with persistent, non-life-threatening illness. Potential participants for the interviews are over the age of 18, suffer from chronic pain and have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. They will be recruited through rheumatology departments and support groups. The interviews are expected to take about an hour on average and participants will be interviewed once between December 2019 and September 2020. The data generated from the interviews will be thematically analysed and integrated with the theological and psychological literature. This is expected to create a model of hope from which implications for a holistic treatment of chronic pain can be drawn.
The study is part of a doctoral research project which is fully funded by Durham University.REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NE/0350
Date of REC Opinion
16 Apr 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion