title: Association of pain with employment status and satisfaction among amputees in Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relationship between residual and phantom limb pain and working life among persons with limb amputation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study in which amputee patients completed a mailed questionnaire about their residual limb and phantom limb pain, employment status, and satisfaction with working life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of rehabilitation medicine of a major hospital in Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  All participants were registered at the industrial rehabilitation center of a general hospital in Japan. Responses were received from 101 of the 147 patients (response rate, 68.7%) who were sent the questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  An amputation pain and employment status survey that included a standardized pain measure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-report questionnaire, with 1 part concerning employment status and satisfaction with working life, and the other regarding amputation-related pain, which the participant described according to the Chronic Pain Grade (CPG).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found (1) no statistically significant association between types of pain and the return to work rate, (2) no statistically significant association between the pain severity as graded by the CPG and return to work rate, and (3) satisfaction with working life was significantly related to the CPG categories.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The severity of pain does not appear to be associated with return to work among limb amputees. However, it is associated with satisfaction with working life. Appropriate treatment of pain may therefore improve work-related satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan. VZA06307@nifty.ne.jp
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ide
authors.forename: Takeharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Obayashi
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toyonaga
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000674:Amputees; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010591:Phantom Limb / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires