Self-report and pain behavior among patients with chronic pain.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between pain behaviors and self-report of pain and disability in patients with chronic pain.


METHODS
Thirty-nine patients (59% women), aged 19 to 79 years, admitted to a Multidisciplinary Pain Center with chronic noncancer pain, were assessed on the following: 1) pain intensity using a 0 to 10 Numerical Graphic Rating Scale; 2) the Pain Disability Index; 3) the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire; 4) a 10-minute videotaped session involving sitting, standing, walking, and reclining, after which pain behaviors were coded using a standardized observational protocol.


RESULTS
Interrelationships among pain intensity, pain disability, self-efficacy, and pain behavior were tested using the Pearson product-moment correlations. Significant relationships were found between pain behavior frequencies and self-reported pain intensity (r = 0.29, P < 0.05), self-reported pain disability (r = 0.54, P < 0.0005), and reported self-efficacy (r = -0.42, P < 0.005). Multiple regression analyses were performed to further investigate these interrelationships. Only the Pain Disability Index score was found to make a significant unique contribution (semipartial correlation of 15%, P < 0.008) to the prediction of total pain behavior score.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that pain behavior observation is a valid and reliable assessment tool for use with a heterogeneous chronic pain population. Significant associations were found between pain behaviors and self-report measures of pain intensity, pain disability, and self-efficacy; pain intensity scores displayed a weak relationship; and pain disability scores the strongest relationship with pain behavior. Viewed with previous research, the results of this study indicate the value of a multimodal, cognitive-behavioral approach to assessing patients with chronic pain.
McCahon
Stephanie
S
Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Strong
Jenny
J
Sharry
Renee
R
Cramond
Tess
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003710:Demography; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012803:Sick Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires