Pathways to Unconventional Medicine among People with Chronic Pain Conditions: Results of a Qualitative Investigation

• In Event: 074 - Regular Session. Health Care and Care Delivery 2

Abstract

The sociological literature on pain and the body largely emphasizes the social and cultural dynamics of suffering. Within this realm, the medical institution is often paramount in regulating how pain is understood and the responses that are appropriate in managing pain. Less is known about other forms of healthcare that treat pain, namely Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). While most research explains the overall “who” of the population of CAM users, few studies address the “why” and the overall effects of using a nonconventional system of medicine. This research traces the trajectory of patients’ treatment-seeking behavior. and explores whether non-conventional treatment changes outlooks on medicine and other health-related beliefs and behaviors. Since little is known about CAM users’ decision-making processes, a qualitative research design, namely in-depth interviews with 20 chronic pain patients, was used to explore the choice to use acupuncture for pain management.
Findings showed that most acupuncture users were initially skeptical of this non-conventional treatment and gradually grew to use it for ailments beyond pain. At the same time, they grew to value the time and intimacy that was shared with their acupuncturist, who often engaged them in holistic approaches to health. The findings suggest strong discontent and resistance to conventional forms of treatment, which were found to be non-validating of pain experiences of patients and their desires to find non-pharmaceutical solutions for pain. This research proposes that CAM patients are demonstrating their ability to make choices on their own behalf without the approval of traditional medical experts.

Author

• Misty Amadona Curreli, Suffolk Community College