The Nexus of Physical and Psychological Pain: Consequences for Mortality and Implications for Medical Sociology

Although physical pain lies at the intersection of biology and social conditions, a sociology of pain is still in its infancy. We seek to show how physical and psychological pain are jointly parts of a common expression of despair, particularly in relation to mortality. Using the 2002–2014 National Health Interview Survey Linked Mortality Files (N = 228,098), we explore sociodemographic differences in the intersection of physical and psychological pain (referred to as the “pain–distress nexus”) and its relationship to mortality among adults ages 25 to 64. Results from regression and event history models reveal that differences are large for the combination of the two, pointing to an overlooked aspect of health disparities. The combination of both high distress and high pain is most prevalent and most strongly predictive of mortality among socioeconomically disadvantaged, non-Hispanic whites. These patterns have several implications that medical sociology is well positioned to address.

Woman-Nature affinity in Desai’s Where Shall We Go This Summer: An Ecofeminist Analysis

This research paper focuses on the images extracted from natural phenomena in Anita Desai's WhereShall We Go This Summer? (1982), to illustrate the pros and cons of patriarchal society'smarginalization and alienation of women in today's world. The article exposes the deep hiddenmeanings of natural imagery through a feministic sensibility. Desai uses natural and animal elementsto create a metaphoric picture of an archetypal feminine figure that works on two levels at the sametime. At a primary level, this technique of inserting natural images at various points throughout thenovel aims to heighten the magnitude and intensity of the mental and spiritual agony of a victimizedwoman who faces domestic violence, male oppression, and female suppression while on a secondarylevel, the role of these images helps the women in the catharsis of that pain, distress, and anguish whichis the result of the rejection of her husband and society as a whole. Karen Warren’s theory ofEcofeminism which regards both women and nature as oppressed objects, is applied for the purpose ofresearch methodology. This research aims to overturn oppressive patriarchal practices by bringingwomen and ecology from the margins to the forefront

Relieving the pressure of venous leg ulcers

Venous leg ulcers are common among older people in nursing and residential homes and can cause considerable pain, distress and even psychological problems. Improved awareness of guidance, greater referral to specialist vascular services and a multidisciplinary approach to management are important to deal appropriately with this frequently underprioritised condition. Mark Greener reports.

Children’s fear and distress during a hospital-based family flu vaccine clinic: A parent survey

The aim of this study was to evaluate parents’ perception of their child(ren)’s distress before, during, and after influenza (flu) vaccination, and their perceived effectiveness of pain and distress management strategies used during the vaccination process. This is a cross-sectional survey of parents attending Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario’s 2018 family flu clinic. After vaccination, parents completed a paper-based survey concerning demographics, fear and distress levels, and use and perceived effectiveness of pain/distress management interventions provided before and during the vaccination process. All survey data were entered into Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap). Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics; qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. A total of 164 parents completed the survey, reporting data on 327 children aged 6 months to 18 years (83% of children were vaccinated). Of 327 children, nearly half ( n = 142, 44%) were reported to be moderately to severely distressed before, during, or after the vaccination process. The parents reported that 268 (82%) children received pain/distress management strategies during vaccination. Over half ( n = 138, 57%) of the parents reported that the strategies used were very effective. Despite frequent use and parents’ perceived effectiveness of pain/distress management interventions, nearly half of the children were perceived by parents as moderately to severely distressed during the vaccination process.

A Nonsurgical Embryo Transfer Technique for Fresh and Cultured Blastocysts in Rats

The use of a nonsurgical embryo transfer technique in rodents eliminates the potential pain, distress, and health complications that may result from a surgical procedure and as such, represents a refinement in rodent assisted reproductive techniques. A nonsurgical technique has not been previously developed for use with rat embryos. Here we describe an efficient method to deliver either fresh or cultured blastocyst stage embryos to the uterine horn of pseudopregnant female rats using a rat nonsurgical embryo transfer (rNSET) device. The rNSET device is composed of a Teflon catheter and a hub that attaches to a 2 μL pipette. Oxytocin is used to dilate the cervix before the delivery of blastocysts, allowing passage of the rNSET catheter directly into the uterine horn for embryo delivery. The efficiency of recovery of pups after nonsurgical embryo transfer is similar to the efficiency after surgical embryo transfer. Furthermore, the technique is not stressful to the subjects, as demonstrated by the absence of a decrease in weight or increase in fecal corticosterone level in recipients of embryos delivered nonsurgically, without the use of anesthesia or analgesia.