RT Journal Article
T1 Living with opioids: A qualitative study with patients with chronic low back pain.
A1 De Sola, Helena
A1 Maquibar, Amaia
A1 Failde, Inmaculada
A1 Salazar, Alejandro
A1 Goicolea, Isabel
K1 Biomedicalization
K1 Chronic pain
K1 Experience
K1 Low back pain
K1 Opioid
K1 Treatment
AB Opioids are one of the most prescribed treatments for chronic pain (CP). However, their long-term use (>3 months) has been surrounded by controversy, due to loss of beneficial effects. To explore the experiences of people with chronic non-malignant low back pain in Spain undergoing long-term treatment with opioids. Qualitative study. We conducted 15 semi-structured interviews at the Pain Clinic with persons taking opioid treatment. The interviews were analysed by qualitative content analysis as described by Graneheim and Lundman, and developed categories and themes discussed in light of a biomedicalization framework. We developed one overarching theme-Living with opioids: dependence and autonomy while seeking relief-and three categories: The long pathway to opioids due to the invisibility of pain; Opioids: from blind date to a long-term relationship; and What opioids cannot fix. The long and difficult road to find effective treatments was a fundamental part of coping with pain, involving long-term relationships with the health system. This study reflects the benefits, and drawbacks of opioids, along with struggles to maintain autonomy and make decisions while undergoing long-term treatment with opioids. The paper also highlights the consequences of pain in the economy, family and social life of patients. Patients' experiences should be considered to a greater extent by health-care professionals when giving information about opioids and setting treatment goals. Greater consideration of the social determinants of health that affect CP experiences might lead to more effective solutions to CP.
PB Wiley
YR 2020
FD 2020-05-19
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/15768
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/15768
LA en
NO De Sola H, Maquibar A, Failde I, Salazar A, Goicolea I. Living with opioids: A qualitative study with patients with chronic low back pain. Health Expect. 2020 Oct;23(5):1118-1128
DS RISalud
RD Apr 17, 2025