Survey of pain among veterans in Western New York.
Recent emphasis on pain and its impact on the health and well-being of individuals evoked the interest of health care providers about services needed for effective and efficient pain management. This study was undertaken to examine the feasibility of using a mailed survey to determine the prevalence, nature, and extent of pain being experienced by Western New York Veterans. The specific aims were to (1) determine the feasibility of using a mailed survey to obtain information about pain in a population of Veterans; (2) estimate the extent of pain in the sample; and (3) describe the nature and impact of the pain experienced by the respondents. A comprehensive survey was prepared by modifying preexisting, widely used pain-assessment tools to describe a Veteran group's pain experience. It was mailed to a randomly selected sample of 150 Veterans registered at a primary care clinic at the Western New York Veterans Administration Health System. A 76% response rate (n=114) was obtained. Respondents declared a wide variety of health problems, and 71% reported having pain. The average number of body parts affected was 4.4 of a possible 11. The average intensity of pain was moderate; 35% reported constant pain, and 85% reported the pain to be occurring for years. Seventy-nine respondents described their pain to be interfering with their life and well-being. Medication was the primary treatment approach and was reported as ineffective by 48%. Veterans' satisfaction with specific aspects of pain treatment was mixed.
Niagara University Department of Nursing, Niagara University, New York 14109, USA. fcrosby@niagara.edu
Frances E
FE
Crosby
Janice
J
Colestro
Marlene R
MR
Ventura
Kathy
K
Graham
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*