Patterns of Analgesic Use Among Patients with Chronic Pain Conditions in tertiary healthcare settings
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.68041/jbpt.v2i3/02Keywords:
Chronic Pain; Analgesics; Pain Management; Medication Adherence; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Quality of Life.Abstract
Chronic pain significantly impacts physical, emotional, and quality of life. The primary objective of this study was to assess the use of analgesics, response to the treatment, adherence to treatment, side effects, and satisfaction of adults suffering from chronic pain conditions. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 150 adults with pain for at least 3 months who attended the pain management, orthopaedics, neurology, and rheumatology outpatient clinics at a tertiary care hospital. Those who participated were recruited in a six-month consecutive manner. A structured interview-administered questionnaire and medical-record review were used to collect the data. Data were presented as descriptive statistics, and associations between patient factors and pain-relief outcomes were tested by Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests. A p-value of under 0.05 was deemed to be statistically significant. Results: Participants' mean age was 52.7±13.1 y, of which 58.0% were women. The most common type of pain condition was musculoskeletal pain (46.7%). NSAIDs were the drugs most commonly used, followed by Paracetamol (19.3%) and weak opioids (14.7%). Thirty-six (36.0%) patients reported inadequate pain relief. The duration of pain, intensity of pain, opioid use, and low medication adherence were significant factors (p<0.05) for inadequate pain relief. The most frequent adverse effect (19.3%) was gastrointestinal-related, and 53.3% of participants were satisfied or very satisfied with pain management. Conclusions: NSAIDs were the most frequently used group of medications, but there was still suboptimal pain control. Personalized, multi-disciplinary treatment and focus on adherence could enhance outcomes and satisfaction.
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