title: The impact of chronic pain: the perspective of patients, relatives, and caregivers.
abstract: To assess the impact of chronic pain on the family environment from the patient's, relative's and caregiver's perspective, we undertook cross-sectional study on a representative sample of Spanish adults who suffered pain at least 4 days a week for ≥3 months and on relatives and caregivers of patients that fulfilled these criteria. The characteristics of pain and the perception of its impact on the family environment were assessed, using logistic regression models to reveal the variables associated with the impact of pain on the family. From a total of 1,957 subjects, 325 experienced chronic pain and 34.6% of them perceived that their pain affected their family environment. These patients recognized a stronger impact when their relatives were sad (OR = 3.61; CI:1.57, 8.27) and had modified the leisure activities because of the pain (OR = 3.62; CI:1.56, 8.38). Among the 131 relatives, 51.2% perceived that pain was affecting the family, causing changes in their leisure activities (OR = 1.17; CI:1.04, 9.94) and sleep disturbance (OR = 1.40; CI:1.32, 12.58). Of the 36 caregivers, mainly women over 50 years of age, 66.7% indicated that pain affected the family, although 72.8% were satisfied with the help they provided. Chronic pain has a very strong impact on the family, although this is perceived distinctly by patients, relatives, and caregivers. Recognizing that factors related to pain affect the family's well-being, and adopting a global approach to pain that takes into consideration the family's experiences, should improve the therapeutic response, and enhance the patient's and relative's quality of life. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved).
authors.affiliation: Preventive Medicine and Public Health Area.
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ojeda
authors.affiliation: Preventive Medicine and Public Health Area.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.affiliation: Preventive Medicine and Public Health Area.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dueñas
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology-Critical Care and Pain Management, University Hospital "Puerta del Mar"
authors.forename: Luís Miguel
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Phar- macology, and Psychiatry, CIBER of Mental Health, CIBER- SAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, University of Cádiz.
authors.forename: Juan Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Micó
authors.affiliation: Preventive Medicine and Public Health Area.
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Failde
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005195:Family Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012922:Social Change; D055815:Young Adult