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Evaluating health-care: the perspectives of sufferers with upper limb pain.

Calnan, Michael .W., Wainwright, David, O'Neill, Claire, Winterbottom, Anna, Watkins, Christopher S. (2005) Evaluating health-care: the perspectives of sufferers with upper limb pain. Health Expectations, 8 (2). pp. 149-160. ISSN 1369-6513. (doi:10.1111/j.1369-7625.2005.00323.x) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:38748)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1369-7625.2005.00323.x

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:

There is considerable uncertainty over the diagnosis, treatment and management of upper limb pain, which has implications for patient care. Research into patient experiences and evaluation of health-care has been neglected and the study presented here aims to fill this gap.

METHODS:

A two-staged, mixed methodology was adopted. Phase 1 involved a postal survey of a random sample (n = 2781) of the working age population (25-64) of an area in south-west England. Phase 2 consisted of follow-up, informal face-to-face interviews with a purposive sample of 47 informants identified, according to pre-defined criteria, from the survey sample.

RESULTS:

Our data showed that concerns about the effectiveness of treatments for alleviating pain were fundamental to users' evaluations of both orthodox and non-orthodox health-care. This took priority over the need for a diagnosis and other information. There was a general recognition that the treatments available were, at least, only partially effective and the pragmatic approach led some to eventually withdraw from both orthodox care and complementary and alternative medicines (CAM).

CONCLUSION:

Patients' priorities for health-care, in this context, were perceived to involve the provision of treatments which alleviated pain and were safe and painless. Orthodox and non-orthodox care needed to be more closely integrated into primary care services.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/j.1369-7625.2005.00323.x
Subjects: H Social Sciences
R Medicine
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: Mita Mondal
Date Deposited: 12 Mar 2014 15:22 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:15 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/38748 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Calnan, Michael .W..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7239-6898
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Wainwright, David.

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
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