Pandemics have exacerbated the condition of 70% of people with chronic pain

The pandemic has had a major impact on people suffering from chronic pain. A study by the eHealth Lab, a research group affiliated with the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Universitat Oberta e-Health Center of Catalunya, has shown that 70% of people with chronic pain have worsened their condition from severity. as they are, so often times and obstacles to daily work.

A total of 502 patients participated in the study; 88% of women were between 30 and 59, with long-term chronic pain (average duration, 7 years). Most participants (87.6%) had pain at more than one point; the most common areas were the abdomen, lower back and neck. Participants responded to online surveys, designed according to the IMMPACT (Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials) methodology, and the CPGQ (Chronic Pain Level Questionnaire) was used to compare make changes between the pain the patients were experiencing since then began locking.

The pandemic makes pain worse

The results showed that job insecurity, worries about the future, the number of people living in the same household, a close relative who has died of COVID-19, or fear of becoming infected with the virus to be associated with exacerbation. .

The study also shows that the pandemic has favored the onset of new painkillers. While changes in weight and weather were the most commonly cited causes of pandemic disease, during lockouts a large number of participants have been anxious about the future, sleep problems, insecurity, negative thoughts. , sadness, loneliness, inadequate physical activity and fear of infection as motivators.

New ways to deal with pain

The pandemic has also changed the way a large proportion of patients manage their pain. More than half (54.5%) have changed the way they deal with it: “The study has shown that, since the onset of the emergency, more than half of patients have used rest to manage their pain, and an equal percentage have increased their medication consumption. Both could have fertility effects, “explained Rubén Nieto, a professor and researcher at UOC’s e-Health Lab. However, with the pandemic, people have also begun to turn to a new advanced way of combating pain. In fact, 48.2% have introduced stretching exercises as a new tool for getting rid of pain.

ICTs, an opportunity for the future

“When there is a chronic pain problem, it is important that people be able to learn to live with it, focusing on achieving their life goals, with or without pain. It is difficult to eliminate to the pain completely, but it is possible to learn to deal with and stay with it. Biopsychosocial interventions may be useful, in which holistic approaches to pain management are used “, explained Rubén Nieto, who is an expert in understanding, assessing and treating pain problems from a multifaceted perspective.

Unfortunately, most people do not have access to these interventions, as many centers do not offer this type of treatment, and health professionals receive little specialist training. the pain management, according to Nieto. However, ICTs emerge as a useful tool for providing this type of treatment to patients with chronic pain: “ICTs provide an opportunity to fight pain and improve well-being, as they can access to make evidence-based interventions at an affordable cost. And they can increase autonomy and personal empowerment, “explained Nieto, who aims to address part of his research on the application of new technologies to health problems.” ICTs in health, ”he continued.“ The opportunities are endless, from classic telecommunications to solutions based on artificial intelligence. But first we have to plan and try the practice. “

The second part of the study

Led by psychologist and researcher Rubén Nieto, the following people have also participated in this study: Beatriz Sora, also a researcher for the e-Health Lab research group and a professor at the Department of Psychology Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV); clinical psychologist Rebeca Pardo, professor of psychology at the European University of Madrid and associate professor at the University of Madrid Autonomy; and Juan Vicente Luciano Devis and Albert Feliu Soler, researchers at the Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute and professionals at the Sant Joan de Déu Health Park.

To better understand the situation of people with chronic pain in the context of pandemic, the researchers have designed a second part of the study in which in-depth interviews will be conducted with people suffering from pain. continuous to get first -in knowledge of their situation. The Rubén Nieto team is looking for people who would like to take part. If you are interested, you can contact him by email at [email protected]

This research supports sustainable development goal (SDG) 3, Good health and wellbeing.