Satisfied or not satisfied: pain experiences of patients with sickle cell disease.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between pain and satisfaction in patients with sickle cell disease.


BACKGROUND
Frequency and severity of unrelieved sickle cell pain are positively associated with mortality. Yet, information is scarce on whether sickle cell patients are satisfied with their pain level.


METHODS
A cross-sectional, correlational analysis of baseline data from a randomized clinical trial.


METHODS
A randomized sample of adult outpatients was recruited between February 2007-March 2011. Patients completed the PAINReportIt(®) , containing measures of pain, satisfaction and socio-demographics. We analysed data using Kendall's rank correlations, analysis of variance, Tukey-Kramer post hoc tests, Fisher's tests and proportional odds logistic regression.


RESULTS
There were statistically significant correlations between pain outcomes and satisfaction with pain level, but average pain intensity more strongly discriminated groups based on satisfaction with pain level. Among pain variables bivariately associated with patient satisfaction with pain level, only pain expectation maintained its significant relationship with satisfaction with pain level when average pain intensity was controlled. A smaller percentage of our sickle cell patients reported moderate to severe pain intensity (28%) or high composite pain index (39%), while reporting being satisfied with pain their level than reported in earlier studies using different measures and populations (70-94%).


CONCLUSIONS
Satisfaction with pain level was an unambiguous measure of patient satisfaction and a promising indicator of pain that did not show the paradoxical relationship between satisfaction and pain seen with past measures.
Department of Biobehavioral Health Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, Illinois, USA.
Miriam O
MO
Ezenwa
College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Robert E
RE
Molokie
Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Zaijie Jim
ZJ
Wang
Department of Biobehavioral Health Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, Illinois, USA.
Marie L
ML
Suarez
Department of Biobehavioral Health Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, Illinois, USA.
Yingwei
Y
Yao
Department of Biobehavioral Health Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, Illinois, USA.|Center for End-of-Life Transition Research, Department of Biobehavioral Health Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, Illinois, USA.
Diana J
DJ
Wilkie
D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction
composite pain index; measurement issues; nursing; outpatient care; pain; pain intensity; pain-satisfaction paradox; patient perspectives; patient satisfaction; sickle cell disease