Clin J Pain. 2021 Jun 29. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000955. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Musculoskeletal pain is a significant contributor to the global disease burden. Management of musculoskeletal pain where a neuropathic component is present can be challenging. This study evaluated the internal structure of the PROMIS® pain quality scales, explored the prevalence of neuropathic and nociceptive pain, and identified health demographics and behaviours related to musculoskeletal pain presentations.
METHODS: Patients presenting to the Victoria University Osteopathy Clinic (Melbourne, Australia) were invited to complete a health demographics and behaviours questionnaire, and the PROMIS neuropathic (NeuroPQ) and nociceptive (NociPQ) pain quality scales, before their initial consultation. Descriptive, inferential and correlation statistics were used to evaluate the PROMIS scales, health demographics and behaviours. Mokken scale analysis was used to evaluate the internal structure and dimensionality of the NeuroPQ and NociPQ scales.
RESULTS: Three hundred and eighty-three (N=383) patients completed the measures. Mokken scaling suggested the PROMIS scales demonstrated acceptable internal structure and were unidimensional. Over 22% of patients demonstrated cut-off scores above 50, suggesting a substantive neuropathic pain component to their musculoskeletal presentation. Patients who reported cigarette smoking, not being born in Australia or not speaking English at home, demonstrated higher NeuroPQ scores. Females demonstrated significantly higher NociPQ scores than males. Pain intensity demonstrated small to medium correlations with NeuroPQ and NociPQ scores.
DISCUSSION: This study provides support for the use of the NeuroPQ and NociPQ scales in a musculoskeletal pain patient cohort. Associations with health demographics and behaviours were identified, and patients typically experienced a combination of neuropathic and nociceptive pain.
PMID:34183533 | DOI:10.1097/AJP.0000000000000955
