Background & Aims
Despite the high prevalence of pain, its impact on daily life, and potentially different pain experiences with ageing, healthcare professionals are unable to effectively assess and treat pain in older people. Pain is a subjective experience that is difficult to accurately measure. A comprehensive pain assessment tool for older people should include biomedical, psychosocial, functional, and quality-of-life aspects of pain, including general medical history, pain history, physical examination, functional assessment, psychological function, cognitive function, and previous pain treatment. There are no appropriate pain scales for older people. So, this study aimed to explore the experiences of chronic pain in people aged 60 and over, to understand how pain impacts the daily life of older people, and to identify domains that should be considered when asking this group about pain. This is part of a bigger study in which finally a pain assessment scale for older people will be developed.
Methods
Twenty people aged 60 and over who suffer from chronic pain participated in semi-structured interviews via Zoom. The study aimed to explore various aspects of their pain experience, including what domains they believe should be included in a pain assessment, such as pain intensity, pain’s impact on physical activity, and pain’s psychological effects. Every interview was recorded and transcribed using Zoom. To verify the accuracy of the transcripts, the first author checked the interviews by reading the transcript and listening to the related interview recording. The transcripts were thematically analysed using the NVivo software (QSR International, 2014) to identify common themes across interviews.
Results
Participants told us that pain has a substantial impact on their quality of life. “It’s made me more cautious about what I can do and what I choose to do” (female, 73 years old). Pain influenced fear levels and cautious behaviours and led to changes in lifestyle. Furthermore, social activities, emotional well-being, and psychological health were significantly impacted by pain. Most participants reported difficulties in their mobility and physical activity, mostly walking. They further raised the need for contextual understanding. “If you say you’ve got pain, they prescribe medication, and because I’m incredibly sensitive to medication and I’ve learned to deal with pain with as little medication as possible, if I say no, I don’t want it, they assume I don’t have much pain.” (female, 77 years old). Importantly, participants highlighted a gap in pain assessment, emphasising the need for a holistic approach encompassing pain intensity, physical activity, and psychological well-being.
Conclusions
This qualitative study offers a comprehensive understanding of chronic pain in people aged 60 years and older. The findings highlight the complex and varied characteristics of chronic pain, emphasising the significance of having a comprehensive pain scale to guide more personalised and efficient treatments for this specific population.
References
1.Herr KA, Garand L. Assessment and measurement of pain in older adults. Clin Geriatr Med. 2001;17(3):457-78, vi.
2.Park HJ, Moon DE. Pharmacologic management of chronic pain. The Korean journal of pain. 2010;23(2):99-108.
Presenting Author
Mahsa Seydi
Poster Authors
Mahsa Seydi
PhD
Neuroscience research Australia
Lead Author
Kimberley S van Schooten
PhD
University of New South Wales, Neuroscience Research Australia
Lead Author
Kim Delbaere
PhD
University of New South Wales, Neuroscience Research Australia
Lead Author
Meghan Ambrens
University of New South Wales, Neuroscience Research Australia
Lead Author
Topics
- Assessment and Diagnosis