title: [Chronic pain in general practice : Results from pain specialists].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is currently a lack of data on chronic pain in general practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a period of 2 years, data from 12,271 patients visiting a pain specialist on an outpatient basis were collected. All patients had documented their pain history (German pain questionnaire) via tablet/computer into a databank.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 12,246 patients from 30 pain clinics could be evaluated. The proportion of women was higher (67%). The majority of patients suffered from back pain (52%). The majority of patients were treated with injections (73%), and the majority of physicians were orthopedic surgeons (71%). A minority of patients had received psychological treatment (< 30%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comprehensive pain documentation by the patients themselves is possible by means of a computer-based program. Back pain is the main problem in patients visiting a pain specialist. Invasive methods are the mainstay of treatment approaches. The psychosocial background of chronic pain seems to be underestimated in the treatment.
authors.affiliation: Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Henkenbergstr. 63, 44797, Bochum, Deutschland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heymanns
authors.affiliation: Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Henkenbergstr. 63, 44797, Bochum, Deutschland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rudolf
authors.affiliation: SchmerznetzNRW, Köln, Deutschland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schneider-Nutz
authors.affiliation: SchmerznetzNRW, Köln, Deutschland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Salem
authors.affiliation: SchmerznetzNRW, Köln, Deutschland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Strick
authors.affiliation: Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Henkenbergstr. 63, 44797, Bochum, Deutschland. zenz@anaesthesia.de.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zenz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004282:Documentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D000070516:Intersectoral Collaboration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000523:psychology; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012984:Software
keywords: Chronic pain; Epidemiology; General practice; Pain documentation; Pain questionnaire