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Selecting patients for pain treatment: applying a model to epidemiological data
1Department of Anaesthesia, Sandviken Hospital, Sweden.
The Clinical Journal of Pain
|March 1, 1990
Summary
High prevalence of pain affects a significant portion of the population. At least 12% require care, highlighting a substantial unmet demand for pain management services.
Area of Science:
- Pain Medicine
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Pain is a widespread health issue impacting individuals across various age groups.
- Assessing pain prevalence and identifying those needing care are critical public health challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a model for identifying individuals with pain problems who require medical attention.
- To determine the prevalence of moderate to considerable pain in a general population sample.
Main Methods:
- A postal survey was conducted with 1,009 randomly selected individuals aged 18-84.
- Participants were questioned about their pain experiences to assess prevalence and severity.
Main Results:
- Overall pain prevalence was high, varying with question type and definition.
- Fifteen percent reported considerable pain, and 25% reported moderate pain.
- An estimated 12% of the population experiences pain severe enough to warrant medical care.
Conclusions:
- A substantial segment of the population suffers from pain requiring intervention.
- Existing pain treatment facilities are unlikely to meet the total demand for pain care.
- Effective models are needed to triage and manage the high burden of pain in the community.