Self-Reported Pain Interference and Analgesic Characteristics in Rural Older Adults

Pain impacts the lives of millions of community-dwelling older adults. An important characteristic of pain is "pain interference" which describes the influence of pain on function. A description of pain interference is limited in rural settings where the number of older adults is expected to increase, and health disparities exist.

The purpose of this study was to describe pain interference and analgesic medication use, highlighting those that may be potentially inappropriate in a sample of rural community-dwelling older adults.

This secondary analysis was from a cross sectional study.

Data were analyzed from a sample of 138 rural community-dwelling older adults.

Statistical analyses were performed on demographics, health characteristics, pain interference, and potentially inappropriate analgesic medication data.

Pain interference with work activity was reported by 76% of older adults overall, with 23% reporting moderate and 4% extreme interference, and 41% reported sleep difficulty due to pain. Higher pain interference was significantly associated with higher body mass index, more health providers, and the daily use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Older women experienced more sleep difficulties due to pain. Over-the-counter analgesics were used most frequently by rural older adults to manage pain. Of most risk was the daily use of NSAIDs, in which only 30% used medications to protect the gastrointestinal system.

Older adults in rural settings experience pain interference and participate in independent-medicating behaviors that may impact safety.