Perceptions and experiences of chronic pain in clinical practice among university of the Witwatersrand physiotherapy students, South Africa

Abstract

Chronic pain poses a challenge to the health and well-being of people globally. A biopsychosocial approach is recommended for the management of chronic pain but the extent to which it is implemented in clinical practice is not well-understood. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of physiotherapy students in their clinical years regarding chronic pain. Physiotherapy students were selected purposively and through snowball sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted over Microsoft Teams using a semi-structured interview guide. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Students had clear theoretical knowledge of the biopsychosocial approach but relied on a biomedical approach in clinical practice. Management techniques were described in terms of traditional physiotherapy techniques and good communication skills with patients. Referrals to other professionals were vaguely described with no report of interdisciplinary teams in practice. Challenges experienced included difficulty in understanding causes and prognosis, choosing a management approach and concern over effectiveness of treatment. Personal experience with pain and professional factors such as training received and clinical experiences influenced the approach to patients.