• Karolina Bryl, Sarah Wenger, David Banz, Glenn Terry, Daritza Ballester, Corrie Bailey, and Joke Bradt.
• Department of Creative Arts Therapies, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
• J Eval Clin Pract. 2021 Dec 1; 27 (6): 1223-1234.

IntroductionThe management of chronic pain is challenging. Biopsychosocial models recommend interprofessional approaches to treatment, but there is sparse information about participants' experiences of these programs, especially in medically underserved populations coping with the intersectionality of racial bias, low socioeconomic status, and psychosocial stressors. This study explored the perspectives and experiences of black participants with low socioeconomic status and concomitant psychosocial stressors in an outpatient interprofessional pain management program, Power over Pain. The program incorporates cognitive-behavioural techniques, creative arts therapies, pain education, and psychoeducation about stress management, self-care, exercise, and medication.MethodThis study employed thematic analysis as the qualitative research method. We conducted semi-structured interviews with nine program participants. Interview questions focused on the impact of the program on participants' overall health and wellbeing and ability to manage chronic pain.ResultsThematic analysis revealed the following treatment benefits as perceived by the participants: (a) moving from feeling stuck to feeling empowered, (b) enhanced understanding of chronic pain resulting in cognitive reframing and debunking certain myths and stigmas, (c) learning new pain management strategies, and (d) social support.ConclusionThe findings suggest that the Power over Pain program may be an effective way to improve self-management and empower medically underserved people who have chronic pain.© 2021 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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