To characterize the population with chronic pain in Maine and explore the relationships between social determinants of health (SDOH) and chronic pain outcomes, including pain levels and co-morbidities.
Key Findings:
Participants were predominantly biological females, aged 65 and older, and from minority racial/ethnic groups, indicating a need for tailored interventions.
Most respondents reported moderate to severe pain, primarily in the lower back, often due to trauma/injury, highlighting the need for targeted pain management strategies.
Higher SDOH risk correlated with worse pain outcomes, while lower education levels were linked to increased anxiety, depression, and fatigue, suggesting that addressing SDOH could improve pain management.
Interpretation:
The findings suggest that SDOH significantly influence chronic pain experiences and outcomes, highlighting the need for targeted public health interventions to address these disparities.
Limitations:
The participant pool was not fully representative of Maine's demographics, particularly underrepresenting veterans, which may affect the generalizability of the findings.
The analysis is based on a small initial sample size of 109 respondents, limiting the robustness of the conclusions drawn.
Conclusion:
Further recruitment and analysis are necessary to enhance understanding of chronic pain and inform public health strategies in Maine, particularly by reaching underrepresented groups.
