Dealing with grief related to loss by death and chronic pain: suggestions for practice. Part 2

Chronic Pain and Grief

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this article was to conduct a systematic review in order to find information that enables a connection between chronic pain and the grieving process to be established, beyond the intuitive relationships that connects them.

METHODS

The medical literature was reviewed in search of articles that provide some evidence of the connection between chronic pain and grief.

RESULTS

The available information on both topics by themselves is profuse but there are very few publications that deal with both issues simultaneously.

CONCLUSIONS

The connection between chronic pain and grief has been mentioned intuitively as a condition taken for granted. However, little evidence of this relationship has been published, which suggests that this topic has not been widely researched.

Chronic pain, loss and the future - Development and evaluation of an innovative, interactive pain education tool

BACKGROUND

The development of chronic pain can result in multiple losses to an individual, which can negatively impact their quality of life. Presentation of the concepts of loss and grief as an interactive educational tool may help those who live with chronic pain gain a deeper understanding of their condition. This in turn may enable more effective management of their pain. This study aims to explore the effectiveness of such a tool through the perceptions and experiences of people living with chronic pain.

METHODS

An interactive pain education tool was developed and distributed with an evaluation questionnaire. Participants were invited to re-evaluate the tool three months later. Responses to the questionnaire were provided using a Likert scale and free text comments. Descriptive statistics were used to present quantitative results and inductive thematic analysis was applied to the free text comments.

RESULTS

The pain education tool was well received by participants, the majority of whom found the process of using the tool a positive experience. Responses showed the tool helped participants express themselves and promoted self-reflection. The tool provided access to the reflections of others, which helped validate and legitimise their feelings and gain the understanding that their response to pain was normal. This in turn helped promote self-compassion and a sense of belonging, reducing feelings of isolation associated with chronic pain.

CONCLUSION

The outcomes of this study show the pain education tool can help individuals gain a new and more positive perspective on themselves and their pain experience, therefore helping them live with and manage their chronic pain.

Results from a systematic writing program in grief process: part 2

OBJECTIVE

This paper, the second of two, reports the results of a systematic writing program used as a tool in the grief process. The study was based on a specifically developed program, which has been described and discussed previously in Part 1.

METHODS

The study had a qualitative research design, with a hermeneutic phenomenological approach. The research tool of the study, a writing program, was developed and implemented. A purposive sample was used, consisting of 13 bereaved adults.

RESULTS

From an analysis of all of the texts written during the program, we drew four conclusions. Writing yields new thoughts and increases knowledge. Writing is stressful as well as a relief. Writing awakens and preserves memories. The value of writing is related to the forms, ways, and situations of writing.

CONCLUSION

We have discussed handling grief with a unique process. Our findings reveal a great breadth and variation in the experiences associated with different writing forms, ways of writing, and writing situations. This implies that flexibility and individualization are important when implementing grief management programs like this. We believe that a structured writing program can be helpful in promoting thought activity and as a tool to gain increased coherence and understanding of the grief process. This writing program may be a valuable guide for program development and future research.

A systematic writing program as a tool in the grief process: part 1

OBJECTIVE

The basic aim of this paper is to suggest a flexible and individualized writing program as a tool for use during the grief process of bereaved adults.

METHODS

An open, qualitative approach following distinct steps was taken to gain a broad perspective on the grief and writing processes, as a platform for the writing program.

RESULTS

Following several systematic methodological steps, we arrived at suggestions for the initiation of a writing program and its structure and substance, with appropriate guidelines.

DISCUSSION

We believe that open and expressive writing, including free writing and focused writing, may have beneficial effects on a person experiencing grief. These writing forms may be undertaken and systematized through a writing program, with participation in a grief writing group and with diary writing, to achieve optimal results.

CONCLUSION

A structured writing program might be helpful in promoting thought activities and as a tool to increase the coherence and understanding of individuals in the grief process. Our suggested program may also be a valuable guide to future program development and research.