Empowering people living with chronic pain to use self-management strategies in their daily lives: understanding occupational therapy practices

Chronic pain affects daily functioning and quality of life for many individuals. Occupational therapists significantly contribute by facilitating self-management strategies, yet specific processes used remain under-documented. This study describes occupational therapy processes supporting chronic pain self-management. A descriptive qualitative design involving three focus groups with 15 occupational therapists experienced in chronic pain management was used. Thematic analysis was used to identify key competencies and processes. Three main competencies were targeted in occupational therapy interventions: understanding one's condition, effectively using chronic pain self-management strategies, and self-regulating to engage in meaningful activities. To develop these competencies, occupational therapists implemented multiple key processes, including establishing a strong therapeutic bond, supporting individuals in identifying meaningful goals, understanding and tailoring interventions to pain-related occupational patterns, providing experimentation opportunities to foster self-management strategy development, facilitating the acquisition of self-regulation skills, and developing a personalized toolbox and relapse self-management plan. Occupational therapists foster chronic pain self-management through structured interventions, experiential learning, and transformative processes, enabling adaptive strategy integration into daily routines. This promotes competency development, enhancing daily functioning and meaningful engagement as well as highlighting occupational therapy's role in improving quality of life for individuals with chronic pain.