Patients' choices for the self-treatment of pain.
Pain is a common problem that affects the functional status and quality of life of people in all communities. This study explored the occurrence of pain and the pain self-treatment modalities used by 723 community residents. Mean worst pain scores were moderate to severe and interfered with all activities at a low-to-moderate level. Participants reported taking nonopioid analgesics (75%), opioid analgesics (15%), adjuvant analgesics (11.6%), and herbal products and supplements (29%); 68% used nonpharmacological modalities. Current regimens were reported to relieve only 45% of pain. Twenty-eight percent of participants reported that they had not informed their primary care practitioner of their self-treatment choices. Knowledge of self-treatment choices is imperative in planning treatment regimens for pain or other health problems to prevent potential interactions or side effects.
Department of Adult Health, Wayne State University College of Nursing, Detroit, MI 48202, USA. april.vallerand@wayne.edu
April Hazard
AH
Vallerand
Judith
J
Fouladbakhsh
Thomas
T
Templin
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002755:Choice Behavior; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D012651:Self Medication / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000700:Analgesics