title: Pain and its effects on physical activity and quality of life before operation in patients undergoing elective inguinal and ventral hernia repair.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pain is the most common symptom associated with hernias. The aim was to assess the frequency of pain and its effects on physical activity and quality of life in patients with inguinal and ventral hernias.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients undergoing elective inguinal or ventral hernia repair over a 16-month period were asked to complete a questionnaire including a 4-point Verbal Rating Scale, Visual Analog Scale, and Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) to assess pain severity and interference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred twenty-four patients (72 inguinal, 52 ventral) completed the questionnaire and 75% registered pain on the BPI. There was good correlation between scoring systems (correlation coefficient >.8). Ventral hernia patients had more pain (P = .037), interference with mood (P = .027), sleep (P = .004), relation with other people (P = .019), and enjoyment of life (P = .029) than their inguinal hernia counterparts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BPI is an easy and effective way of assessing pain and its impact on physical activity and quality of life in patients with an inguinal or ventral hernia with most experiencing mild to moderate chronic pain and disability.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK. Electronic address: pjod2j@clinmed.gla.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: O'Dwyer
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D057234:Preoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Hernia; Inguinal; Pain; Ventral