Experiences of healthcare workers living and working with chronic pain: a systematic review
摘要
This systematic review aimed to synthesize existing literature on the experiences and work-related consequences of chronic pain among healthcare workers.
Subject and methodsFive databases including ProQuest Central, CINAHL (EBSCO), PubMed, Scopus, and MEDLINE (Ovid) were searched, collecting studies on healthcare workers’ experiences of chronic pain and their consequences on their work and life. The search was limited to English-language articles and empirical research studies published between 2014 and 2026. This review was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines and checklist. Quality of evidence was assessed using a modified Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool, and a thematic analysis was conducted.
ResultsIn total, 30 primary research articles were included. Data were categorized and the following themes were established: (1) prevalence of and factors contributing to chronic pain in healthcare workers; (2) work-related experiences of chronic pain among healthcare workers; and (3) healthcare workers’ strategies for working with chronic pain.
ConclusionThis review provides evidence that chronic pain profoundly affects both healthcare workers and organizations, highlighting the significance of organizational support for well-being and sustained employment of healthcare workers. By extension, it calls for research centring the lived experiences of healthcare workers to inform the development and implementation of supportive policies.