Abstract
This article reports the results of a survey of 204 persons with chronic nonmalignant pain who were members of a national self-help organization. The survey evaluated the organization, explored the perceived effect of pain on quality of life, and assessed experiences with and perceptions of health-care providers. Response rate was 40%. Of survey respondents, 50% reported inadequate pain relief. Respondents identified depression as one of the worst problems caused by their chronic pain: 50% reported that they had considered suicide due to feelings of hopelessness associated with their pain, 51% reported taking only as muck medication as prescribed, and 44% reported taking less medication than prescribed. Further investigation is needed to describe the personal impact of chronic nonmalignant pain.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 312-318 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Pain and Symptom Management |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 1994 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Chronic nonmalignant pain
- addiction
- analgesics
- quality of life
- self-help organization
- suicide
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Nursing
- Clinical Neurology
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine