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. 2014 Nov;69 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S191-7.
doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbu101.

Pain measurement in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project: presence, intensity, and location

Joseph W Shega  1 , Andrew D Tiedt  2 , Kaelin Grant  3 , William Dale  3
Affiliations

Pain measurement in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project: presence, intensity, and location

Joseph W Shega et al. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2014 Nov.

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the rationale for the pain presence, location, and intensity measures in the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project (NSHAP).

Method: Responses to the pain presence, location (pain map), and intensity (verbal descriptor scale) items were analyzed by gender and age (62-69, 70-79, and 80-91). Pain intensity was dichotomized (none to mild vs moderate or higher) and compared by demographics, physical function, mood, and self-rated health. All analyses used Wald tests to compare sample means.

Results: Participants completed the pain presence (n = 2,430/2,799), location (n = 2,558/2,799), and intensity (n = 2,589/2,799) items. Pain items varied by gender with women reporting more head, arm, hip/buttock, leg, and foot pain compared to men, (p < .05) at each individual site. Women also reported more intense pain compared to men-2.13 versus 1.94, respectively (p < .05). Pain items demonstrated remarkable similarity among age cohorts. Health indicators were significant and in the expected direction (p < .001). An increase in comorbidity, ADL and IADL dependence, worse self-rated health, and more depressive symptoms were each significantly more common among participants who reported moderate or greater pain compared to none to mild pain.

Discussion: Pain presence, location, and intensity measures were successfully integrated into NSHAP Wave 2 and exhibit construct and external validity.

Keywords: Location; Measurement; Older adult; Pain..

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Pain location.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Respondent completion rates by item in order of presentation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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