The context of pain in arthritis: self-efficacy for managing pain and other symptoms

The Role of Physical Exercise in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Best Medicine-A Narrative Review

The aim of this paper is to provide a narrative review of the effects of physical exercise in the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain. Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior are associated with chronic musculoskeletal pain and can aggravate it. For the management of musculoskeletal pain, physical exercise is an effective, cheap, and safe therapeutic option, given that it does not produce the adverse effects of pharmacological treatments or invasive techniques. In addition to its analgesic capacity, physical exercise has an effect on other pain-related areas, such as sleep quality, activities of daily living, quality of life, physical function, and emotion. In general, even during periods of acute pain, maintaining a minimum level of physical activity can be beneficial. Programs that combine several of the various exercise modalities (aerobic, strengthening, flexibility, and balance), known as multicomponent exercise, can be more effective and better adapted to clinical conditions. For chronic pain, the greatest benefits typically occur with programs performed at light-to-moderate intensity and at a frequency of two to three times per week for at least 4 weeks. Exercise programs should be tailored to the specific needs of each patient based on clinical guidelines and World Health Organization recommendations. Given that adherence to physical exercise is a major problem, it is important to empower patients and facilitate lifestyle change. There is strong evidence of the analgesic effect of physical exercise in multiple pathologies, such as in osteoarthritis, chronic low back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia.

Effect of Pain Coping Skills Training on Pain and Pain Medication Use for Women With Breast Cancer

CONTEXT

Pain is distressing for women with breast cancer. Pain medication may not provide full relief and can have negative side-effects. Cognitive-behavioral pain intervention protocols reduce pain severity and improve self-efficacy for pain management. These interventions' impact on pain medication use is less clear. Intervention length and coping skills use might play a role in pain outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

Secondary analysis to examine differences in pain severity, pain medication use, pain self-efficacy, and coping skill use after five- and one-session cognitive-behavioral pain intervention protocols. Pain self-efficacy and coping skills use were assessed as mediators of intervention effects on pain and pain medication use.

METHODS

Women (N = 327) with stage I-III breast cancer were enrolled in a randomized trial comparing individually-delivered, five- and one-session pain coping skills training (PCST). Pain severity, pain medication use, pain self-efficacy, and coping skills use were assessed preintervention and five to eight weeks later (postintervention).

RESULTS

Pain and pain medication use significantly decreased, while pain self-efficacy increased pre-post for women randomized to both conditions (P's <.05). Five-session PCST participants demonstrated less pain (P =.03) and pain medication use (P =.04), and more pain self-efficacy (P =.02) and coping skills use (P =.04) at postintervention compared to one-session PCST participants. Pain self-efficacy mediated the relationship of intervention condition with pain and pain medication use.

CONCLUSION

Both conditions led to improvements in pain, pain medication use, pain self-efficacy, and coping skills use, and 5-session PCST showed the greatest benefits. Brief cognitive-behavioral pain intervention improve pain outcomes, and pain self-efficacy may play a role in these effects.

A biopsychosocial approach assessing pain indicators among Black men

Introduction

The lack of empirical evidence documenting the pain experience of Black men may be the result of social messaging that men are to project strength and avoid any expression of emotion or vulnerability. This avoidant behavior however, often comes too late when illnesses/symptoms are more aggressive and/or diagnosed at a later stage. This highlights two key issues - the willingness to acknowledge pain and wanting to seek medical attention when experiencing pain.

Methods

To better understand the pain experience in diverse raced and gendered groups, this secondary data analysis aimed to determine the influence identified physical, psychosocial, and behavioral health indicators have in reporting pain among Black men. Data were taken from a baseline sample of 321 Black men, >40 years old, who participated in the randomized, controlled Active & Healthy Brotherhood (AHB) project. Statistical models were calculated to determine which indicators (somatization, depression, anxiety, demographics, medical illnesses) were associated with pain reports.

Results

Results showed that 22% of the men reported pain for more than 30 days, with more than half of the sample being married (54%), employed (53%), and earning an income above the federal poverty level (76%). Multivariate analyses showed that those reporting pain were more likely to be unemployed, earn less income, and reported more medical conditions and somatization tendencies (OR=3.28, 95% CI (1.33, 8.06) compared to those who did not report pain.

Discussion

Findings from this study indicate that efforts are needed to identify the unique pain experiences of Black men, while recognizing its impact on their identities as a man, a person of color, and someone living with pain. This allows for more comprehensive assessments, treatment plans, and prevention approaches that may have beneficial impacts throughout the life course.

Role of self-efficacy for pain management and pain catastrophizing in the relationship between pain severity and depressive symptoms in women with breast cancer and pain

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the relationship between pain and depressive symptoms through pain self-efficacy and pain catastrophizing in breast cancer patients with pain.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of a randomized trial investigating a cognitive-behavioral pain management protocol.

SAMPLE

Females (N = 327) with stage I-III breast cancer and report of at least moderate pain.

METHODS

Pain severity, pain self-efficacy, pain catastrophizing, and depressive symptoms were measured. The proposed model was assessed using structural equation modeling.

RESULTS

Higher pain severity was significantly related to lower pain self-efficacy and higher pain catastrophizing. Lower pain self-efficacy and higher pain catastrophizing were significantly related to more depressive symptoms. Higher pain severity was significantly associated with more depressive symptoms through lower pain self-efficacy and higher pain catastrophizing. The association between pain severity and depressive symptoms was not significant when specified as a direct effect.

CONCLUSION

Pain severity related to depressive symptoms in breast cancer patients via pain self-efficacy and pain catastrophizing.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PSYCHOSOCIAL PROVIDERS

Measurement of pain self-efficacy and pain catastrophizing should be incorporated into comprehensive pain assessments for women with breast cancer, as these variables may be relevant therapeutic targets. Psychosocial symptom management interventions should include strategies that increase pain self-efficacy and decrease pain catastrophizing because these pain-related cognitive variables appear to drive the relationship between pain severity and depressive symptoms.

Prognostic Factors for Quality of Life After Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation in Patients with Chronic Pain-A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Health-related quality of life (hrQoL) is a core outcome in evaluating interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation (IPR). This systematic review aimed to identify prognostic factors for hrQoL at least six months after IPR in chronic pain patients.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science and Cochrane CENTRAL until September 2020. Included were prognostic studies on the outcome hrQoL in adults aged 18 to 67 years with chronic pain (excluding malignancies, systemic-, inflammatory or degenerative joint diseases) who had undergone IPR. Studies were assessed with The Quality in Prognostic Studies-tool. Potential prognostic factors at baseline for the domains pain, psychological and physical functioning were qualitatively synthesized for hrQoL. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation was used to evaluate the level of evidence.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies on 6,668 participants (mean age 37.4-52.8 y), with musculoskeletal pain/fibromyalgia and a pain duration ranging between 13.1 and 177.4 months were considered eligible. With a very low certainty of evidence, pain intensity, emotional distress, and physical functioning at baseline were inconsistent for prediction of hrQoL and pain duration was not predictive. With low certainty of evidence, fewer pain sites, lower levels of negative cognitive behavioral factors, and higher levels of positive cognitive behavioral factors predicted a better outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall certainty of evidence was low to very low, making it difficult to reach definitive conclusions at present. Future studies with a predefined core set of predictors investigating hrQoL in patients with chronic pain after IPR are needed.

Management of Knee Osteoarthritis: What Internists Need to Know

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and morbid condition. No disease-modifying therapies exist; hence the goals of current treatment are to palliate pain and to retain function. OA pain is significantly influenced by the placebo effect. Nonpharmacologic interventions are essential and have been shown to improve outcomes. Canes, unloading braces, and therapeutic heating/cooling may be valuable. Pharmacotherapy options include topical and oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, duloxetine, and periodic intra-articular glucocorticoids and hyaluronans. Opioids, intra-articular stem cells, and platelet-rich plasma are not recommended. Novel targets such as nerve growth factor are under investigation and may be approved soon for OA pain.

Satisfaction with Medications Prescribed for Osteoarthritis: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Patients and Their Physicians in the United States

Introduction

Satisfaction with medications prescribed for osteoarthritis (OA) varies; this study aimed to determine the factors associated with satisfaction in US patients and their physicians.

Methods

This point-in-time study used the Adelphi OA Disease Specific Programme (physicians identified from public lists reported on nine consecutive patients diagnosed with OA [any joint]: physicians and patients completed questionnaires). Patient’s demographic, clinical, and treatment characteristics associated with patient-reported and physician-rated overall satisfaction with, and expectations of effectiveness of, medication for OA were assessed using multivariate linear regression.

Results

Responses from 572 patients (mean age 64.9 years, 60.5% female) currently prescribed medication for OA and 153 physicians (81 primary care, 35 rheumatologists, 37 orthopedic surgeons) were analyzed. Pain intensity was moderate or severe for 59.4% of patients. Greater patient-reported overall satisfaction with medication was significantly associated with (standardized beta, 95% confidence interval) exercise (0.12, 0.03–0.20), comorbid other musculoskeletal or painful conditions (vs none) (0.15, 0.06–0.24), and physicians’ report that the best control had been achieved (0.12, 0.03–0.20); lack of efficacy was among factors associated with worse satisfaction. Greater patient-reported expectation of effectiveness was significantly associated with exercise (0.12, 0.03–0.21) and the most troublesome joint not being a knee, hip, or their back (0.08, 0.01–0.14). Greater physician-rated overall satisfaction with medication was significantly associated with their report that the best control had been achieved (0.18, 0.11–0.26), the most troublesome joint being a knee (0.08, 0.01–0.14), comorbid other musculoskeletal or painful conditions (0.07, 0.01–0.12), obesity (0.06, 0.00–0.11), and female patients (0.06, 0.00–0.11); lack of efficacy and adverse events/tolerability issues were among factors associated with worse satisfaction. For physicians, their report that the best control had been achieved (0.19, 0.11–0.27), the most troublesome joint being a knee (0.08, 0.00–0.15), improving (vs stable) OA (0.15, 0.07–0.24), and uncertain duration of OA (0.11, 0.02–0.21) were associated with greater perception that the medication was meeting patients’ efficacy expectations.

Conclusion

Although efficacy was strongly associated with both patients’ and physicians’ satisfaction with medication, other factors were also important, including exercise (for patients), tolerability (for physicians), and knee OA (for physicians).

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40122-021-00350-0.

Management of Knee Osteoarthritis: What Internists Need to Know

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and morbid condition. No disease-modifying therapies exist; hence the goals of current treatment are to palliate pain and to retain function. OA is significantly influenced by the placebo effect. Nonpharmacologic interventions are essential and have been shown to improve outcomes. Canes, unloading braces, and therapeutic heating/cooling may be valuable. Pharmacotherapy options include topical and oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, duloxetine, and periodic intra-articular glucocorticoids and hyaluronans. Opioids, intra-articular stem cells, and platelet-rich plasma are not recommended. Novel targets such as nerve growth factor are under investigation and may be approved soon for OA pain.

Nonpharmacologic Pain Management in Inflammatory Arthritis

This article provides an overview of nonpharmacologic options for the treatment of pain in patients with inflammatory arthritis, such as peripheral spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The experience of pain in chronic disease is a complex process influenced by multiple domains of health. The discussion focuses on the establishment of a framework for pain control that engages with factors that influence the experience of pain and explores the evidence base that supports specific modalities of nonpharmacologic pain control, such as mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, exercise, massage, splinting, and heat therapy. Rheumatoid and spondyloarthritides are considered separately.

Self-efficacy as a prognostic factor and treatment moderator in chronic musculoskeletal pain patients attending pain management programmes: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Evidence on the effectiveness of pain management programmes (PMPs) for chronic pain patients is mixed. Self-efficacy may be associated with outcome of PMPs. The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the role of self-efficacy as a (i) prognostic factor and (ii) moderator of treatment, in chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) patients attending a PMP.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature and qualitative synthesis was carried out. Six electronic databases were searched (1989-2020). Studies that measured pain self-efficacy as a prognostic factor or treatment moderator in patients with CMP, who participated in a multidisciplinary PMP were included. Study quality was appraised using the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system.

RESULTS

Six studies investigating self-efficacy as a prognostic factor were included with a total of 1881 participants. No studies were found assessing self-efficacy as a treatment moderator. Self-efficacy was a prognostic factor for physical functioning in two studies. There was weak evidence for self-efficacy as a prognostic factor for disability, health-related quality of life and pain outcomes and no evidence for psychological variables, disease severity and tender point index following PMPs. Quality of evidence was very low using the GRADE system for each outcome measure.

CONCLUSION

Baseline self-efficacy may play a role in physical function outcomes in CMP patients attending a PMP. Higher quality evidence is needed to determine the influence of self-efficacy on outcomes in this setting.

Self-Efficacy and the Role of Non-Pharmacologic Treatment Strategies to Improve Pain and Affect in Arthritis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

There is increasing evidence that adjunctive, non-pharmacologic treatment programs are beneficial in the management of arthritis when added to traditional disease-modifying medications. This review focuses on non-pharmacologic management strategies that impact pain and affect, with a focus on self-efficacy, for those with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

RECENT FINDINGS

We reviewed both office-based and internet-based self-management strategies, mindfulness based interventions (MBIs), and cognitive behavioral therapies (CBTs) for patients with arthritis. These behavioral strategies have shown to improve pain, mood disturbance, and physical function in those with both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Improvements in self-efficacy and coping capacity are associated with improvements in patient-reported outcomes (PROs) related to pain and functioning.

SUMMARY

Self-management programs, MBIs, and CBTs are more effective at improving pain and mood disturbance compared to usual care for patients with arthritis although high quality randomized controlled trials are lacking. Non-pharmacologic management programs are increasingly available via the internet and mobile applications.

Therapeutic Alliance Between Physical Therapists and Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis Consulting Via Telephone: A Longitudinal Study

OBJECTIVE

To explore therapeutic alliance between physical therapists and patients with knee osteoarthritis during telephone consultations. Specifically, to describe and compare physical therapist and patient ratings, to determine whether alliance changes over time, and to evaluate whether individual characteristics are associated with alliance.

METHODS

We performed a secondary analysis of 84 patients in the intervention arm of a randomized controlled trial who completed 5-10 consultations with 1 of 8 physical therapists via telephone over 26 weeks, involving education, advice, and prescription of a strengthening and physical activity program. Therapeutic alliance was measured after the second (week 4) and final consultations (week 26), using the Working Alliance Inventory-Short Form.

RESULTS

Patient and physical therapist ratings of the alliance were high. At week 4, patients rated the overall alliance, and all 3 subscales, higher than therapists. At 26 weeks, patients rated the Task subscale higher than therapists. Patient ratings for the Goal subscale decreased over time, while physical therapist ratings for total alliance and the Bond subscale increased. For patients, the variables of living with others, consulting with a therapist with no previous experience delivering care remotely, having more telephone consultations, and having a higher self-efficacy were associated with greater alliance ratings. Therapists were more likely to perceive a stronger alliance if they had less clinical experience and when treating patients who were younger and had higher self-efficacy.

CONCLUSION

Physical therapist perceptions of the therapeutic alliance tended to be lower than those of patients early in treatment, but differences were small and of unclear clinical significance. Some subgroups of patients rated the alliance more strongly than others.

Evaluating psychosocial contributions to chronic pain outcomes

The biopsychosocial model of pain dominates the scientific community's understanding of chronic pain. Indeed, the biopsychosocial approach describes pain and disability as a multidimensional, dynamic integration among physiological, psychological, and social factors that reciprocally influence one another. In this article, we review two categories of studies that evaluate the contributions of psychosocial factors to the experience of chronic pain. First, we consider general psychosocial variables including distress, trauma, and interpersonal factors. Additionally, we discuss pain-specific psychosocial variables including catastrophizing, expectations, and pain-related coping. Together, we present a diverse array of psychological, social, and contextual factors and highlight the need to consider their roles in the development, maintenance, and treatment of chronic pain conditions.

The role of self-efficacy in pain intensity, function, psychological factors, health behaviors, and quality of life in people with rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review

Objective: The aim of this study was to systematically review and critically appraise the role of self-efficacy in pain intensity, function, psychological factors, health behaviors, and quality of life in people with rheumatoid arthritis, based on the analyses of longitudinal studies. Methods: An electronic search of PubMed, AMED, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and PubPsych was carried out from inception to July 2017. Study selection was based on longitudinal studies which have explored the role of self-efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale adapted version was used to evaluate the risk of bias, whereas the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation evaluated the quality of the evidence per outcome. Results: A total of 11 articles met the inclusion criteria. Our results suggest an association between higher self-efficacy and greater goal achievement, positive affect, acceptance of illness, problem-solving coping, physical function, physical activity participation, and quality of life. Inversely, there was also an association between higher self-efficacy and lower pain intensity, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. Conclusions: The findings of this systematic review suggest that self-efficacy might have a positive effect on the prognosis of this condition, although further longitudinal studies are needed.

The Role of Self-Efficacy on the Prognosis of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review

Evidence suggests that self-efficacy can play an essential role as a protective factor as well as a mediator in the relationship between pain and disability in people suffering from chronic musculoskeletal pain. This study systematically reviewed and critically appraised the role of self-efficacy on the prognosis of chronic musculoskeletal pain. Study selection was on the basis of longitudinal studies testing the prognostic value of self-efficacy in chronic musculoskeletal pain. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, the Cochrane Collaboration's tool, and the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies checklist were used to evaluate the risk of bias of included studies. A total of 27 articles met the inclusion criteria. Our results suggest that higher self-efficacy levels are associated with greater physical functioning, physical activity participation, health status, work status, satisfaction with the performance, efficacy beliefs, and lower levels of pain intensity, disability, disease activity, depressive symptoms, presence of tender points, fatigue, and presenteeism. Despite the low quality of evidence of included studies, clinicians should be encouraged identify people with chronic musculoskeletal pain who present low self-efficacy levels before prescribing any therapy. It may help clinicians in their clinical decision-making and timely and specific consultations with-or referral to-other health care providers.

PERSPECTIVE

This article presents promising results about the role of self-efficacy on the prognosis of chronic musculoskeletal pain. However, because of the low quality of evidence of included studies, these findings should be taken with caution, and further research is needed.

Rationale and design of the Staying Positive with Arthritis (SPA) Study: A randomized controlled trial testing the impact of a positive psychology intervention on racial disparities in pain

Knee osteoarthritis is a painful, disabling condition that disproportionately affects African Americans. Existing arthritis treatments yield small to moderate improvements in pain and have not been effective at reducing racial disparities in the management of pain. The biopsychosocial model of pain and evidence from the positive psychology literature suggest that increasing positive psychological skills (e.g., gratitude, kindness) could improve pain and functioning and reduce disparities in osteoarthritis pain management. Activities to cultivate positive psychological skills have been developed and validated; however, they have not been tested in patients with osteoarthritis, their effects on racial differences in health outcomes have not been examined, and evidence of their effects on health outcomes in patients with other chronic illnesses is of limited quality. In this article we describe the rationale and design of Staying Positive with Arthritis (SPA) study, a randomized controlled trial in which 180 African American and 180 White primary care patients with chronic pain from knee osteoarthritis will be randomized to a 6-week program of either positive skill-building activities or neutral control activities. The primary outcomes will be self-reported pain and functioning as measured by the WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index. We will assess these primary outcomes and potential, exploratory psychosocial mediating variables at an in-person baseline visit and by telephone at 1, 3, and 6months following completion of the assigned program. If effective, the SPA program would be a novel, theoretically-informed psychosocial intervention to improve quality and equity of care in the management of chronic pain from osteoarthritis.

The Role of Psychosocial Processes in the Development and Maintenance of Chronic Pain

The recently proposed Analgesic, Anesthetic, and Addiction Clinical Trial Translations, Innovations, Opportunities, and Networks (ACTTION)-American Pain Society (APS) Pain Taxonomy (AAPT) provides an evidence-based, multidimensional, chronic pain classification system. Psychosocial factors play a crucial role within several dimensions of the taxonomy. In this article, we discuss the evaluation of psychosocial factors that influence the diagnosis and trajectory of chronic pain disorders. We review studies in individuals with a variety of persistent pain conditions, and describe evidence that psychosocial variables play key roles in conferring risk for the development of pain, in shaping long-term pain-related adjustment, and in modulating pain treatment outcomes. We consider "general" psychosocial variables such as negative affect, childhood trauma, and social support, as well as "pain-specific" psychosocial variables that include pain-related catastrophizing, self-efficacy for managing pain, and pain-related coping. Collectively, the complexity and profound variability in chronic pain highlights the need to better understand the multidimensional array of interacting forces that determine the trajectory of chronic pain conditions.

PERSPECTIVE

The AAPT is an evidence-based chronic pain classification system in which psychosocial concepts and processes are essential in understanding the development of chronic pain and its effects. In this article we review psychosocial processes that influence the onset, exacerbation, and maintenance of chronic pain disorders.

Using Patient Reported Outcomes in Oncology Clinical Practice

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Patient reported outcomes (PROs) are increasingly being implemented into the care of patients with cancer. The use of a standard set of PROs (e.g., pain) in cancer is becoming established and there is interest in what additional PROs might provide valuable information. The goal of this observational study was to examine how the PROs of self-efficacy for pain and other symptoms assessed at the point of service were associated with pain, symptom severity and distress, and physical and psychosocial functioning in a sample of breast and gastrointestinal patients. We also sought to examine differences in these relationships by cancer type (breast and gastrointestinal) as well as understand differences in self-assessment mode (paper/pencil or electronic tablet).

METHODS

178 patients with breast (n=65) and gastrointestinal cancer (n = 113) completed the Chronic Pain Self Efficacy Scale, M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General questionnaires. Measures were completed with paper and pencil and electronically using a tablet computer while patients waited for their clinical appointment. Responses from the initial completed questionnaires on both the paper and electronic instruments were analyzed.

RESULTS

Patients' self-efficacy scores for pain and other symptoms correlated positively with pain, symptom severity and distress, and physical and psychosocial functioning; patients with lower levels of self-efficacy reported poorer outcomes and functioning overall. The results were independent of cancer type and mode of assessment. No statistically significant differences were found in the PROs when collected by electronic technology versus paper-pencil mode; patients were very satisfied with using the tablet computer to complete the PRO measures.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Our results suggest that self-efficacy for pain and symptom management may be a beneficial addition to clinic-based PRO assessment batteries for patients with cancer and other chronic diseases. Existing short, validated symptom self-efficacy scales could easily be integrated into clinical practice to help healthcare providers identify patients that might benefit from intervention. Study results also support existing research that suggests electronic approaches are a practical way to collect PRO data, including self-efficacy data, in the clinic. Overall, our data suggest that patients who have particularly low levels of self-efficacy for pain and symptom management may be at risk for higher levels of pain and disability. Thus, if self-efficacy for pain and symptom management were routinely collected at the time of clinical service, psychosocial interventions to improve self-efficacy for pain and symptom management, and in turn overall quality of life, could be implemented in a timely fashion.

The preventive services use self-efficacy (PRESS) scale in older women: development and psychometric properties

Background

Preventive services offered to older Americans are currently under-utilized despite considerable evidence regarding their health and economic benefits. Individuals with low self-efficacy in accessing these services need to be identified and provided self-efficacy enhancing interventions. Scales measuring self-efficacy in the management of chronic diseases exist, but do not cover the broad spectrum of preventive services and behaviors that can improve the health of older adults, particularly older women who are vulnerable to poorer health and lesser utilization of preventive services. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of a new preventive services use self-efficacy scale, by measuring its internal consistency reliability, assessing internal construct validity by exploring factor structure, and examining differences in self-efficacy scores according to participant characteristics.

Methods

The Preventive Services Use Self-Efficacy (PRESS) Scale was developed by an expert panel at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Aging and Population Health - Prevention Research Center. It was administered to 242 women participating in an ongoing trial and the data were analyzed to assess its psychometric properties. An exploratory factor analysis with a principal axis factoring approach and orthogonal varimax rotation was used to explore the underlying structure of the items in the scale. The internal consistency of the subscales was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient.

Results

The exploratory factor analysis defined five self-efficacy factors (self-efficacy for exercise, communication with physicians, self-management of chronic disease, obtaining screening tests, and getting vaccinations regularly) formed by 16 items from the scale. The internal consistency of the subscales ranged from .81 to .94. Participants who accessed a preventive service had higher self-efficacy scores in the corresponding sub-scale than those who did not.

Conclusions

The 16-item PRESS scale demonstrates preliminary validity and reliability in measuring self-efficacy in the use of preventive services among older women. It can potentially be used to evaluate the impact of interventions designed to improve self-efficacy in the use of preventive services in community-dwelling older women.

Medication taking behaviors among breast cancer patients on adjuvant endocrine therapy

PURPOSE

To explore how symptoms and psychosocial factors are related to intentional and unintentional non-adherent medication taking behaviors.

METHODS

Included were postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive, stage I-IIIA breast cancer, who had completed surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, and were taking endocrine therapy. Self-administered, standardized measures were completed during a routine clinic visit: Brief Fatigue Inventory, Brief Pain Inventory, Menopause Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy General and Neurotoxicity scales, and Self-Efficacy for Appropriate Medication Use Scale. Regression analyses were performed to determine the degree to which demographic, medical, symptom, and psychosocial variables, explain intentional, such as changing one's doses or stopping medication, and unintentional, such as forgetting to take one's medication, non-adherent behaviors.

RESULTS

Participants were 112 women: mean age 64 (SD = 9) years; 81% white; mean time from surgery 40 (SD = 28) months; 49% received chemotherapy (39% including a taxane); mean time on endocrine therapy, 35 (SD = 29.6) months; 82% taking an aromatase inhibitor. Intentional and unintentional non-adherent behaviors were described in 33.9% and 58.9% of participants, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that higher self-efficacy for taking medication was associated with lower levels of unintentional (p = 0.002) and intentional (p = 0.004) non-adherent behaviors. The presence of symptoms (p = 0.03) and lower self-efficacy for physician communication (p = 0.009) were associated with higher levels of intentional non-adherent behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that women who report greater symptoms, lower self-efficacy for communicating with their physician, and lower self-efficacy for taking their medication are more likely to engage in both intentional and unintentional non-adherent behaviors.

The role of positive traits and pain catastrophizing in pain perception

A variety of biological, psychological, and social factors interact to influence pain. This article focuses on two distinct, but connected, psychological factors--positive personality traits and pain catastrophizing--and their link with pain perception in healthy and clinical populations. First, we review the protective link between positive personality traits, such as optimism, hope, and self-efficacy, and pain perception. Second, we provide evidence of the well-established relationship between pain catastrophizing and pain perception and other related outcomes. Third, we outline the inverse relationship between positive traits and pain catastrophizing, and offer a model that explains the inverse link between positive traits and pain perception through lower pain catastrophizing. Finally, we discuss clinical practice recommendations based on the aforementioned relationships.