Explaining “unexplained” chronic pain to adolescents: a qualitative study of methods and techniques among expert professionals

BACKGROUND: Methods and techniques used to explain to young patients primary or unexplained pain are still confidential and professionals can struggle in these situations. METHODS: This multicenter qualitative study aimed to describe and analyze the practices of expert healthcare professionals explaining “unexplained” chronic pain to adolescent patients. Fourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals. The interviews were analyzed using a Thematic Analysis framework. RESULTS: Three themes emerged from the interviews: (1) naming and affirming chronic primary pain; (2) constructing a common cognitive framework: a process between translation and therapeutic education; and (3) integrating this framework into clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlighted that professionals use multiple resources within a common framework that needs further dissemination and training.