Influence of work-related psychosocial factors on the prevalence of chronic pain and quality of life in patients with chronic pain.
OBJECTIVE
Working is a common cause of chronic pain for workers. However, most of them need to continue working despite the pain in order to make a living unless they get a sick leave or retirement. We hypothesised that the therapeutic effect of vocational rehabilitation may depend on psychosocial factors related to the workplace. To test this hypothesis, we examined the association of work-related psychosocial factors with the prevalence of chronic pain or health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among workers with chronic pain.


METHODS
We examined 1764 workers aged 20-59 years in the pain-associated cross-sectional epidemiological survey in Japan. The outcomes were (1) chronic pain prevalence among all workers and (2) low Euro QoL (EQ-5D <0.76; mean value of the current study) prevalence among workers with chronic pain according to the degree of workplace social support and job satisfaction. Workplace social support and job satisfaction were measured using the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire. Multivariable-adjusted ORs were calculated using a logistic regression model including age, sex, smoking, exercise, sleep time, work hours, body mass index, personal consumption expenditure, intensity of pain and the presence of severe depressive symptoms.


RESULTS
Chronic pain prevalence was higher among males reporting job dissatisfaction compared with those reporting job satisfaction. No difference was observed among women. Chronic pain prevalence did not differ between workers of either sex reporting poor workplace social support compared with those reporting sufficient support. Among workers with chronic pain, low HRQoL was more frequent in those reporting job dissatisfaction. Similarly, low HRQoL was more frequent in patients with chronic pain reporting poor social support from supervisors or co-workers compared with patients reporting sufficient support.


CONCLUSIONS
Work-related psychosocial factors are critical for HRQoL in patients with chronic pain.
Department of Public Health and Social Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita-shi, Osaka, Japan.
Keiko
K
Yamada
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Research and Management for Musculoskeletal Pain, 22nd Century Medical and Research Center, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan Japan Labour Health and Welfare Organization, Tokyo, Japan.
Ko
K
Matsudaira
Department of Public Health and Social Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita-shi, Osaka, Japan.
Hironori
H
Imano
Department of Public Health and Social Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita-shi, Osaka, Japan.
Akihiko
A
Kitamura
Department of Public Health and Social Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita-shi, Osaka, Japan.
Hiroyasu
H
Iso
D000328:Adult; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chronic pain; health-related quality of life; job satisfaction; social support; vocational rehabilitation