Patients' Experiences of Multimodal Rehabilitation for Chronic Pain in Primary Care

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Abstract
Objectives: To describe how patients with chronic pain experienced participation in a multimodal rehabilitation programme (MMR) in primary care. Methods: The study had a descriptive qualitative design with an inductive approach, including 10 participants (6 women and 4 men, aged 36–57). The MMR took place at a primary care centre in southern Sweden and consisted of face‐to‐face meetings twice a week for 6 to 7 weeks. The multidisciplinary team included a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, a healthcare counsellor, and a physician. Individual in‐person interviews were conducted using open‐ended questions and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The results illustrate participants' varied experiences of participation in MMR in primary care, described in three themes with six sub‐themes: (1) knowing the pain (grasping the pain and voicing needs); (2) embracing pain (being recognised and empowered); and (3) building resilience (enhancing skillset and becoming proactive). Conclusions: MMR offered a structure to address chronic pain beyond symptoms, fostering better communication with healthcare professionals and promoting autonomy. It encouraged a shift towards a biopsychosocial understanding of pain and resilience building. Tailoring MMR to individual needs and previous experiences could further strengthen its impact on diverse groups of patients with chronic pain.

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