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Papers of the Week


Papers: 15 Oct 2022 - 21 Oct 2022

RESEARCH TYPE:
Psychology


Human Studies


2022 Oct 11


J Pain

Patient Responses to the Term Pain Catastrophizing: Thematic Analysis of Cross-sectional International Data.

Authors

Webster F, Connoy L, Longo R, Ahuja D, Amtmann D, Anderson A, Ashton-James CE, Boyd H, Chambers CT, Cook KF, Cowan P, Crombez G, Feinstein AB, Fuqua A, Gilam G, Jordan I, Mackey SC, Martins E, Martire LM, O'Sullivan P, et al.
J Pain. 2022 Oct 11.
PMID: 36241160.

Abstract

Pain catastrophizing is understood as a negative cognitive and emotional response to pain. Researchers, advocates and patients have reported stigmatizing effects of the term in clinical settings and the media. We conducted an international study to investigate patient perspectives on the term pain catastrophizing. Open-ended electronic patient and caregiver proxy surveys were promoted internationally by collaborator stakeholders and through social media. 3,521 surveys were received from 47 countries (77.3% from the U.S.). The sample was mainly female (82.1%), with a mean age of 41.62 (SD 12.03) years; 95% reported ongoing pain and pain duration > 10 years (68.4%). Forty-five percent (n = 1,295) had heard of the term pain catastrophizing; 12% (n= 349) reported being described as a 'pain catastrophizer' by a clinician with associated high levels of feeling blamed, judged, and dismissed. We present qualitative thematic data analytics for responses to open-ended questions, with 32% of responses highlighting the problematic nature of the term. We present the patients' perspective on the term pain catastrophizing, its material effect on clinical experiences, and associations with negative gender stereotypes. Use of patient-centered terminology may be important for favorably shaping the social context of patients' experience of pain and pain care. PERSPECTIVE: : Our large international patient survey results show that 45% of the sample had heard of the term pain catastrophizing, about one-third spontaneously rated the term as problematic, and 12% reported having the term applied to them with most reporting this to be a negative experience. Clinician education regarding the use of patient-centered terminology may help to improve patients' experience of care and reduce stigma.