The journal of pain : official journal of the American Pain Society
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Review Meta Analysis
Racial-Ethnic Differences in Osteoarthritis Pain and Disability: A Meta-Analysis.
Osteoarthritis (OA), a leading cause of disability and pain, affects 32.5 million Americans, producing tremendous economic burden. Although some findings suggest that racial/ethnic minorities experience increased OA pain severity, other studies have shown conflicting results. This meta-analysis examined differences in clinical pain severity between African Americans (AAs) and non-Hispanic whites with OA. ⋯ Clinical pain severity and disability in OA is higher among AAs and future studies should explore the reasons for these differences to improve pain management. PERSPECTIVE: This meta-analysis shows that differences exist in clinical pain severity, functional limitations, and poor performance between AAs and non-Hispanic whites with OA. This research may lead to a better understanding of racial/ethnic differences in OA-related pain.
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Comparative Study
Comparative Responsiveness of the PROMIS Pain Interference Short Forms With Legacy Pain Measures: Results From Three Randomized Clinical Trials.
The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Pain Interference (PROMIS-PI) scales are reliable and publicly accessible; however, little is known about how responsive they are to detect change in clinical trials and how their responsiveness compares with legacy measures. The study purpose was to evaluate responsiveness for the PROMIS-PI scales and to compare their responsiveness with legacy pain measures. We used data from 3 clinical trials totaling 759 participants. ⋯ For all pain questionnaires, responsiveness varied based on the study population and whether pain improved or worsened. PERSPECTIVE: This article presents 1) how responsive the PROMIS-PI scales were to detect change over time in the context of 3 clinical trials and 2) how their responsiveness compared with legacy pain measures. The findings can help researchers and clinicians choose between different patient-reported pain outcome measures.
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Chronic pain is a leading cause of work absenteeism and disability compensation. Previous work demonstrates that patients with chronic illness often seek advice, such as whether or not to pursue disability benefits, from peers with similar health conditions. The current study examined the extent that social factors influence patients with chronic pain ("peers") when making disability judgments and recommendations for other patients with chronic pain. ⋯ These judgments may impact patient decision making via peer support programs and online forums. PERSPECTIVE: This study suggests that patients with chronic pain are influenced by patient weight, fault of accident, and physical work demands when making judgments about pain and disability for peers. Future studies should examine the extent such peer-to-peer recommendations influence actual disability-seeking behaviors for pain.
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There is paucity of prospective studies that have examined rates and prognostic indicators of pain severity after a road traffic crash injury. This cohort study involved 1,854 participants aged ≥17 years with a noncatastrophic injury. Primary analyses of pain severity involved 1604 individuals who reported any pain since the injury at baseline Of these, 1,188 and 972 participants were reexamined at the 6- and 12-month follow-up, respectively. ⋯ Several independent contributors to chronic pain identified in this study are modifiable, reinforcing their inclusion as targets in pain management programs. PERSPECTIVE: This cohort study involving participants who sustained a noncatastrophic injury in a road traffic crash established the predictors of pain severity over 12 months. Study findings reiterate and reinforce the importance of being cognizant of a wide spectrum of biopsychosocial predictors both in the management and rehabilitation of injured persons.