Each of us experience pain in some point during one’s life. It can affect one’s occupational performance, ability to work, mood and financial income. Sensation of pain is a subjective experience and therefore it might be difficult for others to understand one’s suffering. Pain becomes chronic when the duration of pain exceeds six months. In occupational therapy the most common methods are orthoses, desensitization and optional ways of doing. According to studies meaningful occupations can be used in occupational therapy. When the client is able to participate in meaningful occupation he or she can gain self worthiness and sense of competence. Chronic pain can become a part of one’s identity if he or she can not commit to meaningful occupations. Studies have also revealed that art, for example, is a useful tool to bring up thoughts and emotions risen from pain. In order to understand one’s own experience of pain he or she should share those experiences with others who have chronic pain.

The main goal of our bachelor’s thesis was to develop a guide for occupational therapists to how to use meaningful occupations with clients with chronic pain. Guidebook consists of chapters which cover occupational therapy, chronic pain and meaningful occupations. There is a case in the guidebook where all the themes are combined. In addition the case emphasizes the client’s own experience of pain and perception of self as occupational being despite the pain. The knowledge used in the guide is evidence based. Five quality criteria were set: client-centeredness, reliability, usefulness, informativity and esthetics. The quality criteria maintained the standards of the guidebook. We estimated the criteria via feedback received.

The feedback was mainly positive. According to the therapists the guidebook presented knowledge of meaningful occupations that would develop the therapists’ profession. They felt that the guide could deepen their know-how but also mentioned that work environments can make the adaptation of the guidebook challenging. The occupational therapists said that the guidebook goes with individual interventions but it can also be used in group therapy. Researchers say that purpose and meaning of occupation should arise from the client. The occupations used in therapy should occur in the most natural environment and the occupations should have a part in the client’s everyday life. According to our evaluation the criteria and the goals were achieved. The project deepened our professionalism and increased the knowledge of pain and the effects of meaningful occupations.