A Qualitative Exploration of General Practitioner's Experiences Delivering Chronic Pain Care in Remote-Rural Settings

By Emma Ramsay

EMS300 Student Conference 2026

Slide 1: "It's not because it's not urban":. A full description follows.

Summary

The experiences of General Practitioners (GPs) in delivering chronic pain care in remote-rural settings, specifically in Shetland, are explored. The study highlights challenges such as limited access to specialty care, inadequate community services, and a reliance on primary care. Through semi-structured interviews with five GPs, three key themes emerged, emphasising the importance of continuity of care and the need for systemic improvements rather than attributing issues to individual practitioners. The findings suggest that rural areas can provide effective chronic pain management, countering the misconception that urban settings are inherently superior.