Qualitative research as the basis for a biopsychosocial approach to women with chronic pelvic pain

Abstract

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a highly prevalent clinical condition and is recognized as a public health problem. Although the number of qualitative studies related to the topic is increasing, it is essential that this knowledge be presented in a synthesized manner, grounded in the context of the care provided to patients with CPP, in order to increase the clinical and research applicability of the findings. Little attention is given to CPP in undergraduate courses and in meetings for the continuing education of health professionals, the approach to CPP typically being based on the biomedical model. We believe that qualitative research can provide insights into CPP and form the basis for a biopsychosocial approach to the condition, which can in turn lead to better results, including resolution of the pain and greater patient/health professional satisfaction. Therefore, we conducted a metasynthesis of seven qualitative studies of CPP, the principal themes of which were as follows: (a) coping with CPP versus secondary gain; (b) the great importance of determining the cause of the pain; (c) expectations regarding the doctor-patient relationship; and (d) gender issues. We hope that the present study can aid in restoring the humanistic aspects of CPP treatment.

A meta‐ethnography of patients' experiences of chronic pelvic pain: struggling to construct chronic pelvic pain as ‘real’

“…Our interpretations support the findings of Souza and colleagues (Souza et al . ): the physical and emotional impact of CPP; the focus on medical diagnosis; loss of validation; normalization in the absence of pathology. There may be some important overlaps between experience of CPP and chronic musculoskeletal pain.…”

“…Although there have been qualitative syntheses exploring CPP (Souza et al . ) and endometriosis (Denny & Khan ) and a recent critical narrative review of endometriosis (Culley et al . ), these studies offer a descriptive, rather than conceptual interpretation.…”

The Impact of Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women

“…However, the current attitude is that the psychosocial dimensions should be reintegrated into health care and practice in order to construct a biopsychosocial model [9]. The treatment of CPP is an important challenge for the health team since it requires a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions associated with several types of invasive procedures.…”

Occupational Performance of Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain and the Potential of Coping as an Unassisted Intervention

“…The estimated worldwide prevalence of this condition is approximately 4% [3], although it appears to be higher in Brazil and in all other developing countries [4] [5]. Since this condition primarily affects women of reproductive age and since most women are active during this phase of life, it is plausible to hypothesize that CPP, in addition to interfering in a negative manner with the personal, marital and social life of women [6] [7], may involve a significant impairment of their occupational performance, i.e., their ability to perform routines, roles and tasks in response to their external and internal environment.…”