Chronic pain: good management of practical pain control strategies is associated with being older, more health activated and having better mental health
Claire Budge 1 4 , Melanie Taylor 1 , Materoa Mar 2 , Chiquita Hansen 1 , Folole Fai 3
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
1 THINK Hauora, 200 Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand
2 Te Tihi o Ruahine Whānau Ora Alliance, 200 Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand
3 MidCentral DHB, PO Box 2075, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand
4 Corresponding author. Email: clairebudge@gmail.com
Journal of Primary Health Care 12(3) 225-234 https://doi.org/10.1071/HC19066
Published: 29 September 2020
Journal Compilation © Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners 2020 This is an open access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Chronic pain affects a large proportion of the adult population and people in pain need to learn how to manage it in order to maintain quality of life.
AIM: This study aimed to examine how well people with long-term conditions make use of self-management strategies to control their pain, and to identify personal attributes associated with a higher degree of success.
METHODS: People with chronic pain who participated in the first phase of a longitudinal long-term conditions study in the MidCentral region made up the study sample (N = 326, response rate 21%). They completed a questionnaire by mail or online, which included items on pain management, general health, patient activation, experiences with general practice and demographics.
RESULTS: Pain control strategies were managed fairly well overall. Taking pain medication and avoiding caffeine, alcohol, heavy meals and exercise before bed were managed best, whereas sleep, relaxation breathing and remaining socially active were managed least well. A multiple regression analysis found higher scores on patient activation, self-rated overall pain management at home, mental health and older age (≥75 years) to be associated with better management.
DISCUSSION: This study identified pain control strategies that are managed well, and less well, outside of a specific intervention. Results highlight topics for discussion in consultations and identify areas where general practice could provide better self-management support, such as sleep and exercise. Better overall pain control strategy management was most strongly associated with patient activation; that is, a combination of knowledge, skills and confidence to manage health and health care that is amenable to intervention. Improving the level of activation in people with long-term conditions may enhance their use of pain control strategies.
KEYwords: Chronic pain; self-management; primary health care
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