The Influence of Perceived Pain on Satisfaction With Community Participation After Hospital Discharge

Ostir GV, Smith PM, Smith D, Berges IM, Ottenbacher KJ. The influence of perceived pain on satisfaction with community participation after hospital discharge.ObjectiveTo examine the association between pain and satisfaction with community participation for patients with stroke approximately 4 months after discharge from inpatient medical rehabilitation.DesignA cross-sectional study from 2001 to 2002 using information from the IT HealthTrack database.SettingCommunity based.ParticipantsThe study included 1673 patients with stroke aged 40 years or older discharged from inpatient medical rehabilitation.InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresPrimary measures included pain ratings and satisfaction with community participation.ResultsThe sample was 49.4% female and 81.1% non-Hispanic white. One third of the sample reported mild to severe pain. Pain ratings showed a significant and inverse association with satisfaction with community participation. The association remained significant with adjustment for possible confounding factors and with stratification by right and left body involvement. Each 1-level increase in pain rating score (range, 0–10) was associated with a 12% decreased odds ratio (OR=.88; 95% confidence interval, .84–.93) of being satisfied with community participation after adjustment for age, sex, marital status, ethnicity, and motor and cognitive functional status.ConclusionsIn persons with stroke, high pain rating scores were significantly associated with lower satisfaction with community participation. Effective pain management may increase level of satisfaction with community participation in persons with stroke.