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Recalling pain experienced during a colonoscopy: pain expectation and variability
Teresa Gavaruzzi1, Andrea Carnaghi, Lorella Lotto
1University of Padova, Italy. teresa.gavaruzzi@unipd.it
British Journal of Health Psychology
|July 8, 2009
Summary
Patient pain expectations and real-time pain variability during colonoscopy significantly influence pain recall accuracy. Interventions targeting these factors can improve retrospective pain assessments.
Area of Science:
- Medical Psychology
- Pain Management
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Accurate retrospective pain assessment is crucial for patient care and research.
- Factors influencing pain recall, such as expectations and real-time experience, are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between pre-procedure pain expectations, real-time pain intensity during colonoscopy, and retrospective pain evaluation.
- To determine predictors of accuracy in pain recall after a colonoscopy.
Main Methods:
- Correlational design with regression and mediational analyses.
- Ninety patients undergoing colonoscopy reported expected pain, real-time pain (every 60s), and retrospective pain.
- Pain intensity was measured on a 0-10 scale.
Main Results:
- Real-time pain variability and pre-procedure pain expectations significantly predicted recall accuracy.
- The influence of expectations on recall discrepancy was mediated by real-time pain variability.
- Gender did not affect the relationship between pain variability and recall accuracy.
Conclusions:
- Patient expectations and the variability of pain experienced during a procedure are key targets for interventions.
- Understanding these factors can help reduce bias in patients' recalled pain experiences.
- This research offers insights for improving pain management strategies and patient communication.
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