Saudi in vaso-occlusive crisis accessing healthcare for pain management: A qualitative study

IF 2.3 Q2 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health Pub Date : 2025-03-26 DOI:10.1016/j.cegh.2025.102011

Jawhrah Alqahtani

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Adults with sickle cell disease often experience vaso-occlusive crises, leading to frequent healthcare visits and increased disparities in care. The pain management experiences of sickle cell disease patients are underexplored, especially in Saudi Arabia, contributing to prolonged suffering.

Objective

To explore the lived experiences of Saudi Arabian adults with sickle cell disease when accessing healthcare for vaso-occlusive crisis pain management.

Design

A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.

Setting(s)

The study was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between November and December 2021.

Participants

12 adults with sickle cell disease were recruited through purposeful and snowball sampling.

Methods

Data were analyzed using Moustakas's transcendental phenomenology, focusing on the lived experiences of participants.

Results

Four themes emerged: (a) enduring suffering, (b) crying out for understanding, (c) paradoxes in healthcare access, and (d) longing beyond suffering. Participants expressed deep pain and frustration, desiring better recognition of their pain and more compassionate, informed care. They reported that healthcare interactions often felt inadequate, with long waits and insufficient treatment, leading to feelings of isolation and distress. Acknowledging their suffering and providing empathetic, well-informed care could alleviate these issues and help them move beyond their pain toward hope and better quality of life.

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来源期刊

Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH-

CiteScore

4.60

自引率

7.70%

发文量

218

审稿时长

66 days

期刊介绍： Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health (CEGH) is a multidisciplinary journal and it is published four times (March, June, September, December) a year. The mandate of CEGH is to promote articles on clinical epidemiology with focus on developing countries in the context of global health. We also accept articles from other countries. It publishes original research work across all disciplines of medicine and allied sciences, related to clinical epidemiology and global health. The journal publishes Original articles, Review articles, Evidence Summaries, Letters to the Editor. All articles published in CEGH are peer-reviewed and published online for immediate access and citation.