Spouses' and physicians' perceptions of pain severity in older women with osteoarthritis: dyadic agreement and patients' well-being.
This study examined agreement between patients and two role partners (spouses and physicians) on patients' pain severity and the relationships between dyadic agreement and patients' well-being. We hypothesized that compared to disagreement between patients and role partners, dyadic agreement would be related to better psychological well-being (more disease-specific self-efficacy and positive affect, and less depression). Participants were 114 older women with osteoarthritis, their caregiving husbands, and their rheumatologists. Among patient-spouse dyads, agreement was associated with better well-being, especially when compared to spouses' underestimation of patients' pain. Contrary to predictions, patient-physician agreement was not related to better patient well-being. Agreement between patients and physicians was associated with less (rather than more) self-efficacy and positive affect when compared to physicians' underestimation of patients' pain.
Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA. jcreaman@kent.edu
Julie K
JK
Cremeans-Smith
Mary Ann Parris
MA
Stephens
Melissa M
MM
Franks
Lynn M
LM
Martire
Jennifer A
JA
Druley
William C
WC
Wojno
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*