Background & Aims
Bearing in mind the multidimensionality of pain, with its adequate consideration being essential for the patient treatment process, there is a need to elucidate the challenges and gaps in its approach to the care of female and male patients, as only then will it be possible achieve advances in total pain management. This study aimed to understand in a practical way how total pain is addressed by health professionals, answering the following question: “Is there any difference in the appreciation, by health professionals at a Brazilian public institution, of the different dimensions of pain between female and male patients?”
Methods
An exploratory, cross-sectional study was carried out, after approval by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of São Carlos, with data collection carried out from December 2023 to January 2024 at the University Hospital of the Federal University of São Carlos.
The researchers carried out face-to-face interviews with healthcare professionals who work at this institution. The interviews were carried out according to a script prepared by the researchers (taking into account that this is a pioneering study in the area). This script was based on other studies already published and found through literature review.
Results
23 health professionals were interviewed, including men and women. 56% of respondents were between 31 and 40 years of age and 30% were between 41 and 50 years of age. Among the professions, there were nurses, nutritionists, physiotherapists, speech therapists and psychologists. Only 1 professional said they did not understand the concept of total pain, even so, 60% said they did not routinely use pain assessment scales and the remainder only used tools to assess physical pain. Regarding pain, 60% think that men are more susceptible to physical pain; 43% believe that women are more susceptible to psychological pain and 43% believe that there are no differences; 35% believe that women are more susceptible to social pain and 56% think there are no differences; 65% think there are no differences when it comes to spiritual pain. As for professionals’ feelings when a female patient is complaining of pain, even though 13% feel impatient and 26% angry, 34% still feel helpless.
Conclusions
There are difficulties in addressing total pain in a public health service, with differences in health professionals’ understanding of men and women. It is important that the issue of gender in pain is widely studied so that it can be demystified.
References
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Presenting Author
Esther Angelica Luiz Ferreira
Poster Authors
Esther Angelica Luiz Ferreira
PhD
Federal University of São Carlos
Lead Author
Fabiola da Silva Paludetti
Federal University of São Carlos
Lead Author
Maria Sagrario Gómez-Cantarino
PhD
University of Castilla La Mancha
Lead Author
Cristina Ortiz Sobrinho Valete
PhD
Federal University of São Carlos
Lead Author
Cristina Helena Bruno
PhD
Federal University of São Carlos
Lead Author
Topics
- Gender/Sex Differences