Pain Self-Management in Individuals With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain During Lebanon's Overlapping Crises

With Lebanon facing multiple crises simultaneously, it is important to understand how Lebanese adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) are self-managing their pain amidst challenging circumstances. This study aimed to describe the pain self-management strategies Lebanese adults with CMP are using, as measured by the Arthritis Pain Self-Management Inventory (APSI), and to determine how helpful they perceive these strategies to be for pain relief. A secondary aim was to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the APSI in Lebanese adults with CMP.

A descriptive design was used and a convenience sample of 154 Lebanese adults with CMP completed the Arabic version of the APSI and self-report measures of pain intensity and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.

The APSI demonstrated acceptable content and cultural validity in Lebanese adults with CMP. Self-directed arthritis education was the strategy used by the largest number of participants, although it was perceived as the second least helpful for pain relief. The second and third most common strategies used were rest/relaxation, warm baths, and maintaining a healthy weight. The most helpful strategy was maintaining a healthy weight, followed by watching religious television, music therapy, and the use of braces or splints.

Lebanese adults with CMP should actively participate in their pain management plan and be educated on the various strategies they could use to effectively self-manage their pain.