Related Experiment Videos
Pain in primary care: an Italian survey
Daniela Koleva1, Iva Krulichova, Guido Bertolini
1CESAV, Centre for Health Economics, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Ranica, Italy.
European Journal of Public Health
|September 10, 2005
Summary
Pain is a common issue in Italian general practice, with musculoskeletal pain being most frequent. Most pain cases were treated with drug prescriptions, highlighting the need for effective pain management strategies.
Area of Science:
- General Practice
- Pain Management
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Pain is a universal symptom impacting well-being and frequently encountered by general practitioners (GPs).
- Pain management quality is a key indicator in healthcare.
- This study focused on the epidemiology and management of pain within Italian general practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of pain presentations in Italian general practice.
- To analyze the management strategies and prescription patterns for pain in this setting.
Main Methods:
- Prospective data collection by 89 participating GPs over two weeks.
- Recording of pain type, diagnosis, certainty of diagnosis, and prescriptions for pain-related contacts.
- Analysis of 1432 pain-related patient contacts.
Main Results:
- Approximately one-third of all GP contacts involved pain.
- Musculoskeletal and abdominal pain were the most common complaints, with limbs being the most frequent site.
- Pain was more prevalent in women; drug prescriptions were issued in about two-thirds of cases, often linked to diagnostic certainty.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of general practice consultations in Italy involve pain.
- Musculoskeletal pain is the predominant type, with acute and chronic pain distributions being similar.
- Drug prescriptions are widely used for pain management, with prescription choices influenced by diagnostic certainty.