The Effect of Psychosocial Factors on Acute and Persistent Pain Following Childbirth
Abstract
Purpose: Little is known about the role psychosocial factors play in the development of pain following childbirth. The purpose of this preliminary study was to determine the feasibility of collecting psychosocial and pain data in low-income women and to determine the effect of baseline depression, anxiety, catastrophizing, and social support on acute and persistent pain after childbirth in a population of low-income women. Design: This was a prospective, longitudinal study. Methods: Baseline measures of psychosocial variables were obtained during the last 8 weeks of pregnancy. Delivery and acute pain data were collected from the electronic medical record. Follow-up data were obtained eight weeks following delivery. Sample: The sample consisted of 50 low-income women receiving prenatal care at a university-based obstetric clinic. Analysis: Descriptive statistics were used to describe the study population. Nonparametric statistics were used to examine the relationships between psychosocial factors and pain. Findings: Persistent pain (>0 on a 0 to 10 visual analog scale) after childbirth was present in 72% of study participants (range=1 to 10, mean=3.17, SD=2.02): 15(37.5%) reported mild pain, 13(32.5%) reported moderate pain, and 1(2.5%) reported severe pain. Acute pain was significantly correlated with persistent pain (r=.74, p<.001) but no significant relationship was found between delivery mode, race, or age on either pain measure. Baseline and follow-up depression were both significantly related to persistent pain (r=0.38, p=0.02 and r=0.50; p=0.03, respectively). Implications for Military Nursing: Results highlight the role of depression in a low-income population. Twenty-nine percent of the enlisted ranks in the Navy are E-1 to E-3, all of whom are considered low income by the US Census Bureau's definition. Routine assessment of depression during pregnancy may identify those at risk of developing persistent pain. Enhanced education of importance of analgesia.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 14, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA624681
Entities
People
- Carole A. Daniel
Organizations
- University of Florida