Michael Oldfield Supervisor: Robin Kirk
Abstract
Aims: The aims of this study were to quantitatively assess variance in levels of pain intensity across patient groups. The prime objective of the study was to explore the relationship between socio-economic status and variance in; pain intensity, and perceived general health status, based upon previous studies that have explored social inequalities in health. Locus of control over health and its effect on pain intensity was also considered to apply the bio-psychosocial model of pain to the study. Other groups which were also examined for pain intensity variance, were gender and age.
Methods: Questionnaires where randomly allocated to patients at the London School of Osteopathy clinic. Patients were excluded from the study if any red flag signs or previously diagnosed pathologies were indicated. Socio-econornic status was determined by using wealth and occupational class. The visual analogue scale was used to measure pain intensity. A tick box system was used to clarify age. gender, locus of control and health status. Results were interpreted using the appropriate statistical calculation.
Results: Subjects in lower grade occupational jobs reported a higher pain intensity score than any other group, however the difference measured using one way analysis of variance was not significant. Subjects with less apparent wealth gave a higher pain intensity score however the Mann Whitney test suggested no significant difference. Subjects who rated their health poorly and felt they had an external locus of control over their health gave a significantly higher pain intensity score in comparison to other groups.