title: Use and satisfaction with the Healthcare System of the chronic pain patients in Spain: results from a nationwide study.
abstract: To analyze the use of healthcare resources by chronic pain (CP) patients in Spain and their satisfaction with them.
  
  
  
  A nationwide, cross-sectional study was carried out on a representative sample of 1957 Spanish adults. A telephone survey was conducted with the aim of analyzing the prevalence of CP, the characteristics and consequences of pain, the use of healthcare resources and patients' satisfaction with them. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed.
  
  
  
  Of the 1957 subjects interviewed, 325 suffered CP. The mean duration of CP was 10 years (SD: 11.3) and 48.9% of the CP sufferers reported severe/unbearable pain. Moreover, about 30% felt sad/very sad or anxious/very anxious, 24.4% had been on sick leave, 12% had left/lost their jobs and 47.2% considered their pain affected their families. Likewise, 92.9% had consulted a healthcare professional due to their CP, on average 3.49 times (SD: 3.9), and 69.2% took medication. In addition, 67.3% and 63.8% were satisfied/very satisfied with the care and the healthcare information they received, respectively. Individuals who reported headache (OR = 0.34) and feeling sad (OR =0.38) were least satisfied with the care they received. In addition, CP sufferers who made greater use of consultations were those who had left/lost their jobs (β = 1.44), those who took medication (β = 1.67), those who considered their pain affected their families (β = 0.97) and those with a shorter duration of pain (β = -0.003).
  
  
  
  CP produces relevant demands on healthcare resources, conditioned by the consequences within the family and the effects on their employment. To achieve greater patient satisfaction, professionals need to pay particular attention to certain sites of pain and to patients' mental health.
authors.affiliation: a Salus Infirmorum Faculty of Nursing , University of Cádiz , Cádiz , Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dueñas
authors.affiliation: b Preventive Medicine and Public Health Area, Faculty of Nursing and Physiotherapy , University of Cádiz , Cádiz , Spain.
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ojeda
authors.affiliation: b Preventive Medicine and Public Health Area, Faculty of Nursing and Physiotherapy , University of Cádiz , Cádiz , Spain.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.affiliation: c Department of Statistics and Operations Research, Faculty of Sciences , University of Cádiz , Cádiz , Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernández-Palacín
authors.affiliation: d Department of Neuroscience, Pharmacology and Psychiatry , University of Cádiz, CIBER of Mental Health, CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III , Cádiz , Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Micó
authors.affiliation: e Department of Anesthesiology - Critical Care and Pain Management , University Hospital "Puerta del Mar" , Cádiz , Spain.
authors.forename: Luis Miguel
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: b Preventive Medicine and Public Health Area, Faculty of Nursing and Physiotherapy , University of Cádiz , Cádiz , Spain.
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Failde
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013030:Spain
keywords: Chronic pain; Healthcare utilization; Nationwide study; Satisfaction