REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF IASP – PAIN 162 (2021): 619–629: Cross-sectional study of psychosocial and pain-related variables among patients with chronic pain during a time of social distancing imposed by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

Ból ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 25-40
Author(s):  
Valerie Hruschak ◽  
K. Mikayla Flowers ◽  
Desiree R. Azizoddin ◽  
Robert N. Jamison ◽  
Robert R. Edwards ◽  
...  

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a tremendous impact, including on individuals with chronic pain. The social distancing policies necessary to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2 have involved increased levels of social isolation. This cross-sectional survey study examined pain severity and interference among individuals with chronic pain during an early phase of social distancing mandates and identified characteristics of individuals who were most impacted. Approximately 4 to 8 weeks after social distancing mandates commenced in the state ofMassachusetts, 150 patients with fibromyalgia, chronic spine, and postsurgical pain completed demographic, pain, social distancing, and validated psychosocial questionnaires. Patients self-reported an overall significant increase in pain severity and pain interference, compared with before social distancing, although both pain severity and interference were quite variable among individuals under conditions of social distancing. Several demographic, socioeconomic, and psychosocial factors were associated with greater pain severity and interference during social distancing. Multivariable linear regression demonstrated that female sex, nonwhite race, lower education, disability, fibromyalgia, and higher pain catastrophizing were independently associated with greater pain severity, while female sex and pain catastrophizing were independently associated greater pain interference. The findings suggest that individual differences among patients with chronic pain should be considered in the planning, development, and prioritization of interventions to improve pain care and to prevent worsening of symptoms during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Myrella Paschali ◽  
Asimina Lazaridou ◽  
Eric S. Vilsmark ◽  
Jeungchan Lee ◽  
Michael Berry ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective Chronic pain can have detrimental effects on quality of life and a profound impact on one’s identity. The Pictorial Representation of Illness- and Self-Measure (PRISM), is a visual tool designed to measure the self-illness separation (SIS) that represents the degree of schema-enmeshment (i.e., the degree to which the self-schema and the illness-schema come to overlap). Our aim was to investigate the relationship between schema-enmeshment and pain-related outcomes in patients with fibromyalgia. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 114 patients with fibromyalgia completed self-report assessments of pain catastrophizing, pain severity and interference, impact of symptoms, anxiety, and depression. SIS was assessed using an iPad version of PRISM. Mediation analyses evaluated the mediating role of schema-enmeshment on the association between pain catastrophizing and fibromyalgia impact. Results A higher degree of schema-enmeshment was associated with greater pain catastrophizing, pain severity and interference, impact of symptoms, and depression. Moreover, a mediation analysis revealed that schema-enmeshment significantly mediated the association between pain catastrophizing and fibromyalgia impact (p < 0.001). Conclusions Our results indicate that schema-enmeshment is associated with greater intrusiveness of chronic pain on everyday life, thereby posing significant limitations on the emotional and physical well-being of fibromyalgia patients. Schema-enmeshment also appears to partly account for the deleterious effect of pain catastrophizing on disease impact. The PRISM is a simple tool that may uniquely capture the extent to which chronic pain and illness infiltrates and affects one’s self-concept.


Pain Medicine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 2200-2211
Author(s):  
Elisabet Sánchez-Rodríguez ◽  
Enric Aragonès ◽  
Mark P Jensen ◽  
Catarina Tomé-Pires ◽  
Concepció Rambla ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective The aims of this study were twofold: 1) to better understand the associations between pain-related cognitions and pain severity, and psychological and physical function, and 2) to determine the extent to which these cognitions function as mediators in the association between pain severity and depression in a sample of primary care adult patients with chronic pain and depression. Design Cross-sectional design. Methods Three hundred twenty-eight patients with both depression and chronic pain from primary care centers responded to measures of pain severity, pain interference, depression severity, and pain-related cognitions (including measures of catastrophizing and other pain-related beliefs). We performed three hierarchical regression analyses and two multiple regression analyses. Results The helplessness domain of pain catastrophizing was positively associated with pain severity, depression severity, and pain interference and mediated the relationship between depression and pain severity and vice versa. Beliefs about disability showed a positive association with pain severity, pain interference, and depression severity, and also mediated the relationship between pain severity and depression. Believing in a medical cure was positively associated with pain interference and negatively associated with depression; emotion beliefs were positively associated with pain severity. Conclusions These findings provide important new information about the associations between several pain-related cognitions and pain severity, depression, and pain interference and the potential mediating roles that these cognitions play in the associations between pain severity and depression in patients with both chronic pain and depression in the primary care setting.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Thomtén ◽  
Katja Boersma ◽  
Ida Flink ◽  
Maria Tillfors

AbstractBackground and aimsReturning to work after periods of sick-leave due to chronic pain problems, involve a number of situations of interpersonal nature (e.g. meeting supervisors/insurance companies to adapt work setting to present functional level, receive help from colleagues, express pain, etc.). Since chronic pain has shown co-morbidity with social anxiety, it is of interest to investigate restraining factors in return to work among chronic pain sufferers from a social perspective. Catastrophizing is identified in both pain and social anxiety as a mechanism that might fuel a continuous bias in how situations are perceived (threat) and by hindering the development of functional behavior strategies. The presence of social anxiety in chronic pain patients might be seen as a stressor that limits the individuals’ ability to effectively communicate pain-related needs to colleagues, and/or employers and therefore act as a hindering factor in return-to-work. Hence, the overall aim of this study was to examine the relationship between social anxiety, pain catastrophizing, and perceived ability to communicate pain-related needs to the work environment in a clinical pain population.MethodsThe study employed a cross-sectional design and involved 247 individuals with chronic pain (82.3% women; Mage = 44 years). Measures included the Pain catastrophizing Scale, the Social Phobia Screening Questionnaire and the communication of pain-related needs-subscale of the Return-To-Work Self-efficacy Questionnaire. Analyzes were run to examine whether social anxiety moderated the relation between pain catastrophizing, and perceived ability to communicate pain-related needs while controlling for pain severity/interference and sick leave.ResultsSocial anxiety and pain catastrophizing correlated positively with each other and negatively with perceived ability to communicate pain-related needs. No support was obtained for a moderating effect of social anxiety. However, social anxiety and pain interference were each significant predictors of the individual’s confidence in being able to communicate pain-related needs to the work environment.ConclusionsIn the context of pain and work-related communication, symptoms of social anxiety was identified as being of similar importance to the outcome as pain interference, while pain severity was not associated with the individual’s confidence in communicating one’s pain-related needs.ImplicationsThe results implicate that fears relating to pain-related social situations at work might be central in the process of return-to-work and rehabilitation in chronic pain.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshito Nishimura ◽  
Kanako Ochi ◽  
Kazuki Tokumasu ◽  
Mikako Obika ◽  
Hideharu Hagiya ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected medical education. However, little data are available about medical students’ distress during the pandemic. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to provide details on how medical students have been affected by the pandemic. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 717 medical students participated in the web-based survey. The survey included questions about how the participants’ mental status had changed from before to after the Japanese nationwide state of emergency (SOE). RESULTS Out of 717 medical students, 473 (66.0%) participated in the study. In total, 29.8% (141/473) of the students reported concerns about the shift toward online education, mostly because they thought online education would be ineffective compared with in-person learning. The participants’ subjective mental health status significantly worsened after the SOE was lifted (<i>P</i>&lt;.001). Those who had concerns about a shift toward online education had higher odds of having generalized anxiety and being depressed (odds ratio [OR] 1.97, 95% CI 1.19-3.28) as did those who said they would request food aid (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.16-3.44) and mental health care resources (OR 3.56, 95% CI 2.07-6.15). CONCLUSIONS Given our findings, the sudden shift to online education might have overwhelmed medical students. Thus, we recommend that educators inform learners that online learning is not inferior to in-person learning, which could attenuate potential depression and anxiety.


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan S.K. Thong ◽  
Gabriel Tan ◽  
Mark P. Jensen

AbstractObjectivesChronic pain is a significant problem worldwide and is associated with significant elevations in negative affect, depressive symptoms, sleep problems, and physical dysfunction. Positive affect could potentially buffer the impact of pain on patient functioning. If it does, then positive affect could be directly targeted in treatment to benefit individuals with chronic pain. The purpose of this study was to test for such moderating effects.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study, we administered measures of pain intensity, depressive symptoms, sleep problems, pain interference, and positive and negative affect to 100 individuals with chronic back or knee pain in a single face-to-face assessment session.ResultsThe associations between pain intensity and negative affect, and between pain intensity and depressive symptoms were moderated by positive affect. This moderation effect was explained by the fact that participants with low positive affect evidenced strong associations between pain intensity and both depression and negative affect; participants with high positive affect, on the other hand, evidenced weak and non-significant associations between pain intensity and both depression and negative affect. Positive affect did not moderate the associations between pain intensity and either sleep problems or pain interference.ConclusionThe findings are consistent with the possibility that positive affect may buffer the impact of pain intensity on negative affect and depressive symptoms. Longitudinal and experimental research is needed to determine the potential benefits of treatments that increase positive affect on negative affect and depressive symptoms in chronic pain populations.ImplicationsThe study findings suggest the possibility that “positive psychology” interventions which increase positive affect could benefit individuals with chronic pain by reducing the impact of pain on negative outcomes. Research to test this possibility is warranted.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malcolm Koo ◽  
Kai-Li Liang ◽  
Rong-San Jiang ◽  
Hsin Tsao ◽  
Yueh-Chiao Yeh

Rhinitis is a common medical condition and can seriously impact patients’ quality of life. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between disease-specific quality of life and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities among Taiwanese rhinitis patients. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken at the outpatient department of otolaryngology in a medical center in Taiwan. Sociodemographic information, disease-specific quality of life (Chinese version of the 31-item Rhinosinusitis Outcome Measure, CRSOM-31), and previous use of CAM modalities for treatment of rhinitis of the patients were ascertained. Factor analysis was performed to reduce the number of CAM modalities. The resulting factors were analyzed for their association with CRSOM-31 score using linear regression analyses. Results from the multiple linear regression analyses indicated that Factor 1 (traditional Chinese medicine), Factor 2 (mind-body modalities), Factor 3 (manipulative-based modalities), female sex, and smoking were significantly associated with a worse disease-specific quality of life. In conclusion, various CAM modalities, female sex, and smoking were independent predictors of a worse disease-specific quality of life in Taiwanese patients with rhinitis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 2971-2974
Author(s):  
Pavan Kumar K ◽  
Sudhakar P Reddy

Background: In India, 42 million people are suffering from thyroid disorders, out of which hypothyroidism is most common with a prevalence of 5.4%. It is more prevalent among females with the male-female ratio being 1:6. Hypothyroidism is a clinical syndrome resulting from a deficiency of thyroid hormones, which in turn results in a generalized slowing down of metabolic processes. Impaired metabolism can be compared with vitiation of Agni causing Agnimandhya according to Ayurveda. Agnimandhya further hampers the formations of Ahara Rasa and consecutive Dhatus Nirmana, diminishing the metabolism, thereby causing features similar to hypothyroidism. The objective of the Study: To assess the impact of diet & lifestyle on the prevalence of Hypothyroidism in Females. Materials and Methods: It is a cross-sectional survey study. A total of 150 female subjects were selected for the study. With the help of a validated pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire, the interview was conducted on female subjects diagnosed with Hypothyroidism to assess the impact of diet and lifestyle on the prevalence of Hypothy- roidism in and around Mysuru city. Result: In the survey study, the majority of the hypothyroidism diagnosed subjects followed unhealthy daily regimes and the majority percentage of them practised unwholesome diet, food habits and lifestyle. Diet and lifestyle have a direct influence on the occurrence of hypothyroidism. Conclusion: Hypothyroidism is a metabolic disorder is mainly caused by Agni Mandhya and Rasa Pradoshaja as a result of faulty diet and lifestyle. One should follow Dincharya, Rutucharya and other Ayurveda principles to protect the Agni and thereby prevent Hypothyroidism. The practice of Ahita Ahara Vidhi and Ahita Vihara in the manifestation of Agnimandhya, followed by the development of features of hypothyroidism was substantiated by the result of the survey. Keywords: Hypothyroidism; Diet; Lifestyle; Agnimandhya; Rasa Pradoshaja Vikara.


Pharmacy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 160
Author(s):  
Alyaa M. Ajabnoor ◽  
Richard J. Cooper

Pharmacist prescribing is being increasingly undertaken to better use their skills and reduce the workload of existing prescribers such as doctors, often using formal processes to legitimate these activities. In developing countries like Saudi Arabia, however, pharmacists’ prescribing remains informal with no legislation or formal training and there is a lack of research and understanding into such practices. Therefore, we aimed to describe current pharmacist prescribing practices in Saudi Arabia and explore pharmacists’ views about pharmacists’ prescribing. This is a cross-sectional survey study using an online questionnaire of hospital pharmacists in Saudi Arabia about pharmacists’ prescribing, and associated views about prescribing legislation and barriers to implementing pharmacist prescribing. Over a quarter (28.5%) of pharmacists reported themselves as prescribers, 49% were following a collaborative prescribing model, 18% independent prescribing, and 33% were doing both. Ninety percent of prescribers reported confidence in prescribing the appropriate treatment and 92.3% perceived they will benefit from more prescribing training. Healthcare practice culture and pharmacist’s competency were identified as barriers. There is an overall support for pharmacists’ prescribing in Saudi Arabia among this sample of hospital pharmacists, with limitations in resources and the absence of standardized prescribing training being perceived as key barriers to pharmacists’ prescribing.


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mwumvaneza Mutagoma ◽  
Laetitia Nyirazinyoye ◽  
Dieudonné Sebuhoro ◽  
David J Riedel ◽  
Joseph Ntaganira

Female sex workers (FSWs) frequently face violence in their working place. This study assessed the physical and sexual violence and associated factors among FSWs in Rwanda. A cross-sectional study was conducted among FSWs in Rwanda in 2015. Venue–Day–Time sampling method was used for recruitment. Descriptive analyses and logistic regression models were computed to assess factors associated with violence. In total, 1978 FSWs were recruited. A large proportion (18.3%) had been sexually abused outside of the family circle, and 37.8% had faced physical violence before 15 years of age. Clients were most often reported (67.0%) as perpetrators of physical violence in sex work. Being aged 25 years old and above, and having sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were positively associated with sexual violence (aOR = 2.1[95%CI: 1.80–2.39]) and (aOR = 3.0[95%CI: 1.01–2.14], respectively). Being aged 25 years old and above (aOR = 0.8[95%CI: 0.76–0.89]) and drinking alcohol every day (aOR = 0.6[95%CI: 0.42–0.87]) were negatively associated with physical violence. Sexual and physical violence was common among FSWs in Rwanda. Single FSWs are the most vulnerable to sexual violence. Alcohol consumption and having STIs are associated with violence against FSWs. Human rights and social protection as well as health promotion among FSWs is needed.


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