Improving Access to Healthcare for Refugee Women Living with Chronic Pain

Little is known about the experiences of refugee women living with chronic pain and the care they receive. As an Osteopath and a PhD candidate, I am in an inimitable position to improve access to Osteopathy for marginalised populations experiencing chronic pain. Given the multifaceted nature of chronic pain and the migratory experiences endured while seeking refuge, several barriers exist that may prevent a cohesive approach to health care provision for refugee women. Whilst refugee women are particularly vulnerable to chronic pain, very few seek osteopathic care for their symptoms.
The complex reality of osteopathic practice places us in a unique position to help care for this vulnerable population and highlights our important role in the wider health system. As a clinical osteopath and mixed methods researcher, I will use semi structured interviews and pain questionnaires to explore the barriers and facilitators faced by refugee women navigating the healthcare system to receive care for chronic pain.
Understanding the barriers that may exist for vulnerable populations seeking care for chronic pain provides clinicians with useful research outcomes that improve clinical effectiveness and ultimately opens the door to better clinical practice. This research will provide insight into refugee women’s experiences with chronic pain and guide the delivery of culturally component care in primary and allied health care settings.