Pain Severity Cutpoints in Osteoarthritis Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Kapstad Heidi, Hanestad Berit R, Langeland Norvald, Rustøen Tone, Stavem Knut
Primary Institution: Oslo University College, Faculty of Nursing Education, Oslo, Norway
Hypothesis
What are the optimal cutpoints for mild, moderate, and severe pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee preparing for joint replacement surgery?
Conclusion
The optimal cutpoints for pain severity differ between patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee, supporting the validity of the derived cutpoints.
Supporting Evidence
- The optimal cutpoints for hip patients were (4,6) and for knee patients were (4,7).
- Patients with OA of the hip had a mean age of 68.7 years, while knee patients had a mean age of 69.1 years.
- Significant differences in pain intensity scores were found among the three pain severity groups.
Takeaway
Doctors found different levels of pain for people with hip or knee problems, which helps them understand how much pain patients are feeling before surgery.
Methodology
Patients completed the Brief Pain Inventory, WOMAC Arthritis Index, and SF-36 health status measure to determine optimal cutpoints for pain severity.
Potential Biases
Participants were younger than non-participants, which may have biased the results towards higher pain intensity scores.
Limitations
The study's sample may not represent all patients due to recruitment methods, and there was no radiographic categorization of OA severity.
Participant Demographics
The majority of participants were female, with a mean age of approximately 69 years, and varied education levels.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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