Pain experience in older adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Pain Severity, Pain Self-efficacy and Pain Catastrophizing in Older Adults with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: a Comparative Study of UK and Hong Kong Residents
IRAS ID
183258
Contact name
Rosanna Wing Lam Lau
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East Anglia
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 1 days
Research summary
Chronic musculoskeletal pain is a common problem among older people affecting their physical, psychological and social wellbeing. In comparison with medical treatment alone, psychological treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) are ways pain can be managed. In order to improve treatment outcome for chronic pain using CBT with older people, we need to increase our understanding of cognitive factors related to the management of chronic pain.
In this study, we will assess pain self-efficacy (PSE) and pain catastrophizing (PC). PSE is defined as an individual’s confidence in their ability to cope with pain while PC is the tendency of individual to ruminate upon the pain stimulus to view their pain situation as worse than it actually is. We will aim to examine the relationship between PSE and PC and how they may impact on the level of pain severity and wellbeing. A measure of depression will be used to assess wellbeing. In this study, we hypothesize level of PC will have an impact on the relationship between pain severity and depression. Second, we hypothesize PSE affects the relationship between pain severity and PC. Third, we hypothesize the indirect effect of pain severity on depression via PC would vary by levels of PSE.
Information with regard to the efficacy of pain treatments with diverse racial or ethnic populations in current psychosocial interventions are limited. As such in order to improve our understanding of individual responses to chronic pain, a sample of 80 British people will be recruited in this study. Their responses will be compared with that of a previously recruited sample of 80 participants from Hong Kong.
Participants in the study will be 1) 60 or above years of age, 2) with chronic pain for over 3 months and 3) have no communication, neurological or physical conditions that will prevent the completion of the questionnaires. The questionnaires consisting of a variety of pain and depression measures will be given to participants.
REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1608
Date of REC Opinion
7 Sep 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion