Welcome to ChrOnic Pain Education (COPE): Strategies to Enhance Well-Being
COPE is an online resource guide designed to be used by individuals with chronic pain as well as occupational therapy practitioners and other members of the interprofessional team when working with individuals experiencing chronic pain. This website can be used by practitioners and clients when working to alleviate and manage symptoms of chronic pain as well as enhance their well-being. It is accessible from any location, making it especially beneficial for those living in rural areas who may have difficulty accessing healthcare services. The ultimate goal of the COPE website is to help individuals participate in their daily activities safely, independently, and meaningfully to improve their overall well-being and quality of life.
Occupational Therapy's Role
Occupational therapy practitioners (OTs) work with individuals to increase participation and engagement in all meaningful daily activities (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020). By promoting independence, safety, and occupation, practitioners work to help individuals increase their overall health, well-being, and quality of life.
Theoretical Framework
Two main theoretical frameworks were used to guide the creation of this website.
Model of Human Occupation
The model of human occupation (MOHO), based on Gary Kielhofner’s work, was used to understand the population of individuals experiencing chronic pain as well as guide this project (Kielhofner & Burke, 1980). The main components of this model are volition, habituation, and performance capacity. The environment is another important component to consider.
Volition includes aspects like motivation, interests, values, and personal causation (O’Brien, 2017). People are motivated in different ways and by different things. Understanding what motivates a person and how they can use that to achieve their goals is important.
Habituation consists of patterns of habits and roles (O’Brien, 2017). When considering pain management, habits and routines are very important. These daily tasks will likely have to be modified to incorporate pain management strategies and enhance client performance. An individual's roles often become part of their identity and can be affected by chronic pain as well.
Performance capacity includes both mental and physical abilities as well as individuals’ lived experiences (O’Brien, 2017). Since chronic pain can influence any area of occupation and have effects on both mental and physical health, it is important to explore this for each and every person. An individual's valued activities and abilities help determine a fit that is 'just right' so they can feel both challenged and empowered.
Additionally, the environment is seen to contain opportunities and resources for the person to promote their occupational performance (O’Brien, 2017). Setting up an individual's environment to promote success, independence, and safety can significantly increase their performance and self-efficacy.
VARK Model of Learning Styles
VARK model key:
V: Visual (seeing something)
A: Aural/Auditory (hearing something)
R: Read/Written (reading something)
K: Kinesthetic (doing something)
The VARK model of learning styles was used throughout the creation of this website when considering individuals who experience chronic pain (Kitchie & Arnaud, 2020). The main idea behind the VARK model of learning styles is that people learn in different ways and often prefer a certain type of learning (Kitchie & Arnaud, 2020).
Some people learn better from visual information or seeing something, some by aural information or hearing something, some from written information or reading something, and some by kinesthetic information or doing something hands-on (Kitchie & Arnaud, 2020).
For this reason, there are video demonstrations, pictures, written descriptions, and interactive activities included on the COPE website. By incorporating each component of the VARK model into this website, it increases accessibility and ease of use for any type of learner.
Contact Us
Contact us today with feedback on the website, questions, or resources you would like to see added.
References
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2020). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process (4th ed.). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(Suppl. 2), 7412410010. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S2001
Kielhofner, G., & Burke, J. P. (1980). A model of human occupation, part 1. Conceptual framework and content. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 34(9), 572–581. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.34.9.572
Kitchie, S., & Arnaud, L. M. (2020). Determinants of learning. In S. B. Bastable, P. R. Gramet, D. L. Sopczyk, K. Jacobs, & M. M. Braungart (Eds.), Health professional as educator: Principles of teaching and learning (2nd ed., pp. 129-184). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
O’Brien, J. C. (2017). Model of human occupation. In J. Hinojosa, P. Kramer, & C. B. Royeen (Eds.), Perspectives on human occupation: Theories underlying practice (2nd ed., pp. 93-136). F.A. Davis.
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