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Table 5 Interpretation of patient topics

From: Self-care of chronic musculoskeletal pain – experiences and attitudes of patients and health care providers

Positive aspects of self-care

Activation of patients (something that the patient can do for himself)

Individuality of self-care:

-desire to control the pain

-healthy natural methods

-integrated actions

-psychological effect

Easier to tolerate the pain

Need for pain self-care

Something should be done if the doctor is not visited

Awkward and long-lasting pain

Pain alleviating

Improving functionality and quality of life

Better effect of alternative and medicine combination

Too much medication from conventional medicine

Conventional methods exhausted

Disappointment with conventional medicine

Social aspects of self-care

Information about self-care

Tradition

Experiences from others, sharing of experience

Support from the environment