Pain and psychological characteristics in women waiting for gynaecological surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Pain is frequently a complaint prior to gynaecological surgery. Psychological factors are also known to influence the experience of pain. The primary objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of pain and the relationship between psychological factors and pain in women awaiting gynaecological surgery.


METHODS
Four hundred twenty-nine women in a tertiary care centre in southeastern Ontario were included in this cross-sectional analysis, which was embedded in a larger prospective study. Pain was assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory, anxiety using the State Trait Anxiety Inventory, depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, somatization using the Seven Symptom Screening Test, and catastrophizing with an abbreviated coping strategies questionnaire.


RESULTS
Eighteen percent of women reported high anxiety, 37% reported depressive symptoms, 47% had two or more symptoms of somatization, and 40% reported elevated pain catastrophizing. Approximately one third reported moderate to severe pain intensity and interference. Of those reporting pain, 81% believed their pain was due to their primary condition. Depressive symptoms, somatization, and catastrophizing were associated with elevated pain intensity and interference.


CONCLUSIONS
The responses suggest a substantial burden of pain, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in women awaiting gynaecological surgery. Further research is needed to assess the management of these symptoms and their impact on health care resources and the well-being of women in this setting.
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston ON; School of Nursing, Queen's University, Kingston ON.
Sarah
S
Walker
Clinical Research Centre, Kingston General Hospital, Kingston ON; Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Kingston ON.
Wilma M
WM
Hopman
School of Nursing, Queen's University, Kingston ON; Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Kingston ON.
Margaret B
MB
Harrison
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston ON; Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston ON; Department of Urology, Queen's University, Kingston ON.
Dean
D
Tripp
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston ON; School of Nursing, Queen's University, Kingston ON.
Elizabeth G
EG
VanDenKerkhof
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D058443:Catastrophization / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult