Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41204255›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

Perceived barriers to and facilitators of physical activity, using the COM-B model for behavioural change, in people with chronic pain: a qualitative evaluation of patient and stakeholder perspectives.

Cassie Higgins, P M Dall, C Leese, P Adair, P A Cameron, S K Inglis, A Christogianni, B H Smith, L Colvin

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Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Cassie HigginsDivision of Population Health and Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK. c.z.higgins@dundee.ac.uk.
P M DallResearch Centre for Health, School of Health & Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
C LeeseDivision of Population Health and Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
P AdairSchool of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
P A CameronDivision of Population Health and Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
S K InglisDivision of Population Health and Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
A ChristogianniDivision of Population Health and Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
B H Smith *Division of Population Health and Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
L Colvin *Division of Population Health and Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.

Funding

Chief Scientist Office CSO HIPS/19/26
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPhysical inactivity is a substantial public health concern and challenging problem to address. Physical activity (PA) is shown to be of therapeutic benefit to those living with chronic pain (CP), but intervention studies have often been unsuccessful in promoting sustainable engagement with PA in this population. To develop a more comprehensive understanding of the barriers to and facilitators of sustainable PA in people with CP and to frame the findings within the six COM-B constructs.

methodThis qualitative study was informed by behaviour change theory (the COM-B model), and participants were drawn from two settings. First, 36 adults living with moderate-severe CP were recruited from a specialist NHS pain service ('patients'). Secondly, 15 stakeholders were recruited to represent a range of healthcare sectors involved in supporting people with CP. One-to-one semi-structured interviews, informed by the COM-B model, were conducted between May 2020 and October 2021. Interviews were conducted by telephone or using online conferencing software and were transcribed verbatim and anonymised. The Framework Method was used to analyse the data. First, two independent researchers conducted line-by-line coding and, using a consensus approach, collapsed the findings to produce subthemes. Secondly, these inductively identified subthemes were mapped to predetermined themes (i.e. the six COM-B constructs) using a consensus approach involving three researchers.

resultsMany patients reported prohibitive pain intensity, worsening symptoms and lack of motivation as barriers to physical activity and that effective pain management, personalised support and social interaction facilitated physical activity. The inclusion of stakeholder perspectives was valuable in developing a more comprehensive understanding of the barriers to PA encountered by people with CP and also of the facilitators that are successful in promoting sustainable PA in this population. For example, stakeholders highlighted additional barriers, such as people's limited financial resources and their perceptions of physical activity being counterintuitive when experiencing pain.

conclusionsThe barriers to and facilitators of PA in people with CP are numerous and complex, and stakeholder perspectives can broaden this understanding. Barriers and facilitators were successfully mapped to the COM-B constructs in a way that could inform future PA intervention design.

Indexed as

Chronic PainExerciseStakeholder ParticipationAdultAgedFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchBarriersChronic painFacilitatorsFramework analysisPhysical activityQualitative analysis

Identifiers

PMID41204255
PMCPMC12595877

What Socratic holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.