The myth of patient centrality

Howarth, ML; Haigh, C

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the extent of patient centrality within integrated chronic back pain management services and compare policy rhetoric with practice reality.
Context: Integrated chronic back pain management services.
Data sources: We have drawn on theories of integration and context specific journals related to integration and pain management between 1966 and 2006 to identify evidence of patient centrality within integrated chronic pain management services.
Discussions: Despite policy rhetoric and guidelines which promote patient centrality within multidisciplinary services, we argue that evaluations of these services are scant. Many papers have focused on the assessment of pain in multidisciplinary services as opposed to the patient’s experience of these services.
Conclusions: A latent measure of the reality of its magnitude needs to be captured through analysis of the patient perspectives. Capturing patient’s thoughts about integrated services will promote patient centrality and support the reality rather than endorse the rhetoric.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jul 11, 2007
• Deposit Date: Apr 7, 2011
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2016
• Journal: International Journal of Integrated Care
• Electronic ISSN: 1568-4156
• Publisher: Ubiquity Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 7
• Additional Information: Additional Information : "Readers are reminded that this work is protected by copyright. While they are free to use the ideas expressed in it, they are not allowed to copy, distribute or publish the work or part of it, in any form, printed, electronic or otherwise, except for reasonable quoting, clearly indicating the source. Readers are permitted to make copies, electronically or printed, for non-commercial use, particularly personal or classroom use."