69. The sick person with chronic pain: study of the repercussion in the anxiety, depression and activities of daily life (420)

Ana Rodrigues, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Serviço de Cirurgia, Centro Hospitalar Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro - Unidade de Lamego, Lamego, Portugal
Co author:: Inês Gomes
amfmr@sapo.pt

Abstract:

As a complex and multidimensional phenomenon, it is not surprising that chronic pain has wide ranging implications for those who experience it; it affects their personal and professional activities and impinges on their familial and social relationships. Indeed, numerous and diverse bio-psychological problems with observable consequences for quality of life, pain, life-style and patient well-being have already been described in the literature. Thus, the present study’s main objectives were, on the one hand, to evaluate the consequences of chronic pain in relation to anxiety, depression and the everyday life of patients and, on the other, to adapt into the Portuguese context an instrument for assessing the perception of incapacity due to pain in relation to people’s everyday-life activities: the Pain Disability Index (PDI) from Tait et al. (1990). In total the study had 90 participants, both male and female cancer patients aged between 33 and 93 years old. Of these, 44 had chronic pain while 46 did not.

The participants were evaluated in relation to the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory from Spielberg, the Beck Depression Inventory and through the PDI. One was able to observe higher levels of anxiety and depression and a clearer perception of incapacity in relation to everyday-life routines in patients with chronic pain than patients without. Positive correlations between these three variables were also recorded, as well as between these variables and the intensity of pain. These results indicate the need to implement psychological intervention programmes as well as strategies aimed at stopping these problems from appearing and at promoting the psychosocial well-being of patients and their families.

Finally, in relation to the adaptation of the PDI, the instrument proved itself to have good psychometric qualities in terms of reliability, validity and sensitivity.

Recommended reading list:

• Seymour, J. & Paz, S. (2004). Pain; Theories, evaluation and Management. In Palliative care Nursing: principles and evidence for pratice, (pp. 260-298), Payne, S., Seymour, J. & Ingleton, C. (1st ed.). London: Open University Press
• Sheldrake, A. (2005). Models of health and illness. In Chronic Pain Management, (pp. 1-35), Banks, C. & Mackrodt, K. (1st ed.). London: Whurr Publishers, Ltd.
• Observatório Nacional de Saúde (2003). A dor na população portuguesa; alguns aspectos epidemiológicos do ano de 2002. Lisboa: Observatório Nacional de Saúde e Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge.

Source of Funding: N/A

Amount in Funding: N/A