AIM: To estimate occurrence of non-specific musculoskeletal pain in a wide population sample of Italian adolescents, and to investigate their use of healthcare services (seeking of medical attention, referral for diagnostic tests and treatment use). METHODS: We investigated 7542 high-school adolescents (aged between 12 and 16 years) by a structured questionnaire and consisting of personal data, presence of pain, health provider consulted, referral for diagnostic tests and compliance with the prescribed treatments. RESULTS: In 3399 (45.1%) reported musculoskeletal pain (the most affected sites being the spine and knees), 2525 (74.2%) of whom had sought medical attention. Of the 2525 subjects who had sought healthcare, 1061 (42.0%) had consulted more than one health provider, 2410 (95.4%) had been referred for diagnostic tests, and some form of treatment had been recommended for 2445 (96.8%), but only 1694 (69.2%) had complied with prescribed therapies. The most important factors linked to health seeking behaviour were pain intensity, pain lasting longer than 3 months, injury, interruption to or absence of physical activity and localization in the spine and knee. CONCLUSION: Non-specific musculoskeletal pain is a frequent event in Italian adolescents and that a large number of these subjects consult a healthcare service.
AIM: To estimate occurrence of non-specific musculoskeletal pain in a wide population sample of Italian adolescents, and to investigate their use of healthcare services (seeking of medical attention, referral for diagnostic tests and treatment use). METHODS: We investigated 7542 high-school adolescents (aged between 12 and 16 years) by a structured questionnaire and consisting of personal data, presence of pain, health provider consulted, referral for diagnostic tests and compliance with the prescribed treatments. RESULTS: In 3399 (45.1%) reported musculoskeletal pain (the most affected sites being the spine and knees), 2525 (74.2%) of whom had sought medical attention. Of the 2525 subjects who had sought healthcare, 1061 (42.0%) had consulted more than one health provider, 2410 (95.4%) had been referred for diagnostic tests, and some form of treatment had been recommended for 2445 (96.8%), but only 1694 (69.2%) had complied with prescribed therapies. The most important factors linked to health seeking behaviour were pain intensity, pain lasting longer than 3 months, injury, interruption to or absence of physical activity and localization in the spine and knee. CONCLUSION: Non-specific musculoskeletal pain is a frequent event in Italian adolescents and that a large number of these subjects consult a healthcare service.
Authors: Cornelius B Groenewald; Bonnie S Essner; Davene Wright; Megan D Fesinmeyer; Tonya M Palermo Journal: J Pain Date: 2014-06-19 Impact factor: 5.820
Authors: Steve J Kamper; Nicholas Henschke; Lise Hestbaek; Kate M Dunn; Christopher M Williams Journal: Braz J Phys Ther Date: 2016-02-16 Impact factor: 3.377
Authors: Mirca Marini; Benedetta Bendinelli; Melania Assedi; Daniela Occhini; Maria Castaldo; Jacopo Fabiano; Marco Petranelli; Mario Migliolo; Marco Monaci; Giovanna Masala Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-05-10 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Michael S Rathleff; Sune K Skuldbøl; Mads N B Rasch; Ewa M Roos; Sten Rasmussen; Jens L Olesen Journal: BMC Musculoskelet Disord Date: 2013-07-30 Impact factor: 2.362