Investigating Specialized Chronic Pain Care Among Emerging Adults

Background: AIMS: To investigate characteristics of emerging adults accessing a specialized chronic non-cancer pain clinic and describe interventions offered and utilized by this group.

Design: A retrospective chart review was conducted of emerging adults and middle-aged adults with chronic pain receiving care over a six-month period.

Setting: A chronic pain clinic in Southeastern Ontario.

Participants: 82 participants comprised of 41 emerging adults (aged 18-29) and 41 middle-aged adults (aged 30-64) METHODS: Groups were matched on sex and number of pain sites. Demographic and pain characteristics, interventions, referrals, and clinic utilization were examined using bivariate and multivariate analysis.

Results: Emerging adults reported lower pain severity scores (t(80) = -2.15, p = .035), were more likely to receive referrals for additional consultation and/or diagnostic investigations (X²(1, n = 82) = 4.97, p = .026) and to have at least one psychology visit (X² = 7.29, p = .007). Moreover, emerging adults with higher depression scores were more likely to see a psychologist (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.014-1.492).

Conclusions: Pain presentation and care patterns differed between emerging adults and middle-aged adults. Increased use of non-pharmacologic interventions in emerging adults may reflect differences in pain presentations as well as clinician's sensitivity to emerging adult's particular developmental needs but further research is needed. Further research is needed to contribute to nurses' understanding of the quality and efficacy of pain management approaches.