Non-Medical Factors Associated with the Outcome of Treatment of Chronic Non-Malignant Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Irena Kovačević
• Author: Višnja Majerić Kogler
• Author: Valentina Krikšić
• Author: Boris Ilić
• Author: Adriano Friganović
• Author: Štefanija Ozimec Vulinec
• Author: Jadranka Pavić
• Author: Milan Milošević
• Author: Petra Kovačević
• Author: Davorina Petek
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Public Health and Health Care; Occupational and Sports Medicine

Abstract (english)

Background: Chronic pain is a global public health issue with increasing prevalence. Chronic pain causes sleep disorder, reactive anxiety, and depression, impairs the quality of life; it burdens the individual and society as a whole. The aim of this study was to examine non-medical factors related to the outcome of the treatment of chronic non-malignant pain.
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Methods: A cross-sectional study with two groups of patients was conducted using a questionnaire with biological, psychological, and social characteristics of patients. Since this study was cross-sectional, it was not possible to determine whether some factors were the cause or the consequence of unsuccessful treatment outcome, which is at the same time one of the disadvantages of cross-sectional studies.
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Results: The poor outcome of the treatment of chronic non-malignant pain in a multivariate binary logistic regression model was statistically significantly associated with the lower quality of life (OR = 0.95 (95% CI: 0.91-0.99; p = 0.009), and higher depression level OR = 1.08 (95% CI: 1.02-1.14; p = 0.009). The outcome of the treatment was not directly related to social support measured by the multivariate binary logistic regression model (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.95-1.15, p = 0.395), but solitary life (without partner) was (OR = 2.16 (95% CI: 1.03-4.53; p = 0.043).
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Conclusion: The typical patient with a poor pain management outcome is retired, presents depressive behavior; their pain disturbs general activity and sleeping. Moreover, they have a physically disturbed quality of life and require self-treatment due to the inaccessibility of doctors and therapies. The principle of treatment of patients with chronic, non-malignant pain should take into account a biopsychosocial approach with individually adjusted procedures.

• Keywords (english): Anxiety / epidemiology; Chronic Pain / epidemiology; Chronic Pain / psychology; Chronic Pain / therapy; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Quality of Life; Treatment Outcome
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Numbering: vol. 19, no. 5, 2881
• e-ISSN: 1660-4601
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052881
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:455030
• Publication: 2022-03-01
• Document URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/5/2881
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2022-10-05 08:15:46