The actual state of the effects, treatment and incidence of disabling pain in a gender perspective -: a Swedish study

Purpose : The purpose of the study was to elicit the actual state of self-perceived experience of long-term and/or recurrent pain and its effects as reported by women and men with disabilities due to pain, in order to determine criteria for assessing the need for measures in rehabilitation/occupational therapy. Methods : The study used a comparative design with a sample randomized from the Swedish population aged 18-58 years (n = 10 000). The inclusion criterion was that the respondents had or had had pain causing activity limitation or restricting participation in daily life. A special questionnaire including items concerning demography, pain, coping, occupations in daily life, work, treatments, care institutions and hospital/care staff visited, was posted to 1849 persons and was answered by 1448 respondents (study group n = 1305, control group n = 117). Results : Gender differences were found in the overall prevalence of pain, women reporting more frequent episodes of pain than men did. Differences were also found in pain variables, in daily occupations, days of sick- leave and work variables. Women completed more varied treatment than men. The incidence rate of long-term/recurrent pain in the population studied was 0.07. Conclusions : As a conclusion from this study, three essential components are suggested for use when assessing the need for rehabilitation/occupational therapy: (1) shoulder/arm or lower back pain of aching, tensed and/or searing character, particularly among women; (2) emotional/affective pain effects causing restlessness and depression, particularly among women; and (3) limitations in daily occupations assessed by FSQ and the demand/control/support model with results falling within the warning zones plus long sick-leave periods.