Andrew H Rogers1, Jafar Bakhshaie1, Michael F Orr2, Joseph W Ditre3, Michael J Zvolensky1,4,5. 1. Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas. 2. College of Nursing, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington. 3. Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York. 4. Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. 5. HEALTH Institute, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is a significant public health problem that is associated with several negative health outcomes, including increased health care cost, decreased productivity, and prescription opioid misuse. Although efforts have been made to curb the growing opioid epidemic in the United States, further research is needed to better understand individual difference factors that may be associated with greater pain and opioid misuse. Lower levels of health literacy, defined as the ability to obtain, understand, and use health information to make important decisions regarding health and medical care, has been associated with several chronic illnesses. Yet little work has examined the relationship between health literacy, pain, and opioid misuse among individuals with chronic pain. METHODS: The current study examined health literacy in relation to current opioid misuse, severity of opioid dependence, pain severity, and pain disability among 445 adults with chronic pain (74.6% female, Mage [SD] = 38.45 [11.06] years). RESULTS: Results indicated that health literacy was significantly negatively associated with each of the criterion variables. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that health literacy may contribute to opioid misuse and pain experience among individuals with chronic pain. Interventions targeting health literacy among individuals with chronic illness may help to address the opioid public health crisis.
BACKGROUND:Chronic pain is a significant public health problem that is associated with several negative health outcomes, including increased health care cost, decreased productivity, and prescription opioid misuse. Although efforts have been made to curb the growing opioid epidemic in the United States, further research is needed to better understand individual difference factors that may be associated with greater pain and opioid misuse. Lower levels of health literacy, defined as the ability to obtain, understand, and use health information to make important decisions regarding health and medical care, has been associated with several chronic illnesses. Yet little work has examined the relationship between health literacy, pain, and opioid misuse among individuals with chronic pain. METHODS: The current study examined health literacy in relation to current opioid misuse, severity of opioid dependence, pain severity, and pain disability among 445 adults with chronic pain (74.6% female, Mage [SD] = 38.45 [11.06] years). RESULTS: Results indicated that health literacy was significantly negatively associated with each of the criterion variables. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that health literacy may contribute to opioid misuse and pain experience among individuals with chronic pain. Interventions targeting health literacy among individuals with chronic illness may help to address the opioid public health crisis.
Authors: Elena Castarlenas; Elisabet Sánchez-Rodríguez; Rubén Roy; Catarina Tomé-Pires; Ester Solé; Mark P Jensen; Jordi Miró Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-11-28 Impact factor: 3.390