Nurses' and physicians' narratives about long-term non-malignant pain among men

• The aim of this study was to illuminate the meaning of skilled nurses' and physicians' lived experiences in their encounters with men suffering from long-term, non-malignant pain of at least 6 month duration. Seventeen nurses and four physicians participated in the study. A phenomenological-hermeneutic method was used. In the narratives three themes, "needing to be manly", "struggling for relief from pain" and "needing human support" emerged. The phenomenon "confirmation" of the theme "struggling to be manly" means that nurses' and physicians' must have such a relationship with theese men that they really feel respected. Confirmation of the theme "struggling for relief from pain! means thar the care givers must convince these men that they really believe each unique individual's narratives. Confirmation of the theme "needing human support" means that nurses and physicians have to behave in such a way that these men are convinced that the caregivers really care about them. When the men felt confirmation they dared to disclose their pain experiences more honestly. This is a preliminary prerequisite for nurses' and physicians' potential to help these men.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Keyword

chronic pain

confirmation

fibromyalgia

gender

long-term pain

nurses

pain management

phenomenological-hermeneutic

physicians

Caring sciences

Vårdvetenskap

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)