[Prevalence and analysis of pain among Nursing Assistants]

Current scientific evidence supports the view that pain is the result of central processing of nociceptive input, in which contextual, cognitive and emotional factors intervene, along with other comorbidities. This new paradigm implies a substantial modification in the way pain is considered as an occupational health problem, particularly affecting Nursing Assistants (NA). Given the lack of studies on the subject, this research aimed to analyse the prevalence and perception of pain experienced by NAs working in Spain, from the updated paradigm of pain.

A cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study was conducted between September and December 2021, with a study population of NAs in Spain. Sample size was estimated using an a priori calculation with G*Power. Participants completed an online questionnaire, after which analyses of associations between variables were performed using Student t-tests, ANOVA, chi-squared and Pearson's correlation. Predictive models were also analysed using multiple linear regression and binary logistic regression analyses.

The final sample consisted of 1,228 NAs, 91.45% of whom reported pain in the past twelve months. Of those with pain, 39.4% had central sensitization levels in the moderate, severe and extreme categories. A significant statistical association was found between the type of workplace (p=0.029) or physical activity (p=0.043) with reporting pain. Women reported more extensive pain than men (p=0.019). Age (p=0.0001) or length of service (p=0.003) showed a significant statistical association with chronicity of pain. The predictive ability of the proposed regression models did not reach relevant values in any case.

The present study follows a line of research that considers pain associated with an occupational role and environment as a complex health problem in which different types of variables interact. It is necessary to deepen the application of the model used, taking into account the role of psychosocial variables that allow a more accurate prediction of the characteristics of the personal experience of pain.