Karime Mesouto - Let’s Talk About Power In Pain Management

Full title: Let’s Talk About Power In Pain Management: Thinking Beyond The Biopsychosocial Model
About: It is widely known that pain has physical, psychological, social, and cultural dimensions that can affect treatment outcomes 1, 2 . A related element is the power dimensions in healthcare, with research demonstrating that an equal power dynamic between patients and clinicians positively influences pain experiences. However, power dynamics have been rarely explored within the well-known biopsychosocial
model of pain. Furthermore, although patient empowerment is advocated in pain management, power dynamics have been discussed without a critical exploration of the interplay of contextual factors (e.g., economic, political, societal) in the patient- clinician relationship.
In this presentation, I will discuss the socio-cultural-political context of power dimensions involved in healthcare interactions and how clinicians
and patients can work collaboratively to ensure more equitable practices.
Citations:
Foster, N.E., et al., Prevention and treatment of low back pain: evidence, challenges, and promising directions. Lancet, 2018. 39110137: p. 2368-2383.
Meints, S.M. and R.R. Edwards, Evaluating psychosocial contributions to chronic pain outcomes. Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry, 2018. 87Pt B: p. 168-182.
Ocloo, J., J. Goodrich, H. Tanaka, J. Birchall-Searle, D. Dawson and M. Farr, The importance of power, context and agency in improving patient experience through a patient and family centred care approach. Health Research Policy and Systems, 2020. 181: p. 10.
Pilgrim, D., The Biopsychosocial Model in Health Research: Its Strengths and Limitations for Critical Realists. Journal of Critical Realism, 2015. 142: p. 164-180.
Mescouto, K., R.E. Olson, P.W. Hodges and J. Setchell, A critical review of the biopsychosocial model of low back pain care: time for a new approach? Disabil Rehabil, 2020: p. 1-15.
Halvorsen, K., et al., Empowerment in healthcare: A thematic synthesis and critical discussion of concept analyses of empowerment. Patient Education and Counseling, 2020. 1037: p. 1263-1271.
Karime Mescouto, BPhty(Hons), MSc, is a physiotherapist and a PhD candidate at The University of Queensland, Australia. In her doctoral research, Karime is interested in enhancing low back pain healthcare delivery by critically looking at the biopsychosocial model of health.
She is particularly interested in exploring the socio, cultural, and political dimensions of healthcare practices. Her research uses a variety of critical qualitative methodologies and collaborates with clinicians and people with lived experiences of low back pain. Before commencing her PhD studies, Karime worked clinically for seven years and was a lecturer in physiotherapy undergraduate programs in Brazil.
She holds a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Science and a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. She is a passionate physiotherapist aspiring to contribute to best practice care for people with musculoskeletal pain conditions.