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Investigating Pain-Related Avoidance Behavior using a Robotic Arm-Reaching Paradigm
Published on: October 3, 2020
Evaluation of the fear-avoidance model with health care workers experiencing acute/subacute pain
Marc Corbière1, Sara Zaniboni, Marie-France Coutu
1Université de Sherbrooke, Longueuil, Québec, Canada University of Trento, Trento, Italy Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Fraser Health Authority, Workplace Health Program, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
Abstract:
Studies in the literature do not show clear evidence supporting the relationship between pain and depressive symptoms in individuals experiencing acute/subacute pain compared to those experiencing chronic pain. However, more information is needed about which variables act as mediators in the pain-depression relationship in people having acute/subacute pain, before pain becomes chronic. Our objectives were to test the suitability of the fear-avoidance model in a sample of 110 health care workers experiencing acute/subacute pain using path analyses, to improve the model as needed, and to examine a model involving both pain catastrophizing and pain self-efficacy with work status as a final outcome. Overall, the results indicated that adjustments to the fear-avoidance model were required for people experiencing acute/subacute pain, in which fear-avoidance beliefs and depressive symptoms were concurrent rather than sequential. The catastrophizing concept was most closely associated with depressive symptoms, while pain self-efficacy was directly associated with fear-avoidance beliefs and indirectly to work outcomes. Assessing and modifying pain self-efficacy in acute/subacute pain patients is important for interventions aiming to decrease fear-avoidance and improve work outcomes.
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