Community physiotherapists’ experiences of working with patients with persistent pain from diverse cultural backgrounds in London

Abstract

Purpose: On-going research suggests that patients with persistent pain would benefit from being treated in the community and signposted to activities or exercise they enjoy doing. Clinicians such as physiotherapists in the community, help guide patients to self-manage, improve their coping skills, challenge their negative health beliefs, and adhere to recommended treatment. Language and culture are known to affect pain, pain beliefs and attitudes towards healthcare. Little is known about how physiotherapists manage patients from culturally diverse backgrounds. The aims of this project are to explore (1) Physiotherapists’ experiences of working with patients from culturally diverse backgrounds with persistent pain in the community and (2) their beliefs about the reasons for lack of adherence to exercise in this patient population.