Help-seeking behavior among community-dwelling adults with chronic pain

Grit but Not Help-Seeking Was Associated with Food Insecurity among Low Income, At-Risk Rural Veterans

Rural veterans have poorer health, use healthcare services less often than their urban counterparts, and have more prevalent food insecurity than average U.S. households. Food insecurity and resource use may be influenced by modifiable psychological attributes such as grit and help-seeking behaviors, which may be improved through interventions. Grit and help-seeking have not been previously evaluated among rural veterans. Thus, this cross-sectional study evaluated the hypothesis that grit and help-seeking were associated with food insecurity and the use of resources. Food security, resource use, grit, and help-seeking behavior were assessed among rural veterans (≥18 years) from five food pantries in southern Illinois counties (n = 177) from March 2021 to November 2021. Adjusted multiple regression was used to estimate the relationship between the odds of food insecurity and the use of resources with grit and help-seeking scores. Higher grit scores were significantly associated with lower odds of food insecurity (OR = 0.5, p = 0.009). No other associations were detected. The results provided evidence to inform the content of future educational interventions to improve food insecurity and address health disparities among rural veterans by addressing grit. The enhancement of psychological traits such as grit is related to food security and has the potential to benefit other aspects of well-being.

Continuing professional development needs in pain management for Canadian health care professionals: A cross sectional survey

Background

Continuing professional development is an important means of improving access to effective patient care. Although pain content has increased significantly in prelicensure programs, little is known about how postlicensure health professionals advance or maintain competence in pain management.

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate Canadian health professionals' continuing professional development needs, activities, and preferred modalities for pain management.

Methods

This study employed a cross-sectional self-report web survey.

Results

The survey response rate was 57% (230/400). Respondents were primarily nurses (48%), university educated (95%), employed in academic hospital settings (62%), and had ≥11 years postlicensure experience (70%). Most patients (>50%) cared for in an average week presented with pain. Compared to those working in nonacademic settings, clinicians in academic settings reported significantly higher acute pain assessment competence (mean 7.8/10 versus 6.9/10; P < 0.002) and greater access to pain specialist consultants (73% versus 29%; P < 0.0001). Chronic pain assessment competence was not different between groups. Top learning needs included neuropathic pain, musculoskeletal pain, and chronic pain. Recently completed and preferred learning modalities respectively were informal and work-based: reading journal articles (56%, 54%), online independent learning (44%, 53%), and attending hospital rounds (43%, 42%); 17% had not completed any pain learning activities in the past 12 months. Respondents employed in nonacademic settings and nonphysicians were more likely to use pocket cards, mobile apps, and e-mail summaries to improve pain management.

Conclusions

Canadian postlicensure health professionals require greater access to and participation in interactive and multimodal methods of continuing professional development to facilitate competency in evidence-based pain management.

Facing symptoms and limitations: a qualitative study of women with carpal tunnel syndrome

BACKGROUND

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a neuropathic pain condition characterised by pain, paresthesia, loss of strength and disability.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the experiences of women with CTS regarding the management of symptoms and limitations.

METHODS

A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted. Women with a clinical and electromyographic diagnosis of CTS recruited from the Neurology Department of a Public Hospital were included. Purposeful sampling was performed. Data were collected using in-depth interviews and researchers' field notes. Analysis proposed by Giorgi was used.

RESULTS

A total of 18 women with CTS were included. Two themes emerged: a) Living with CTS symptoms and limitations: describing the symptoms experienced, triggers of their symptoms and how they define CTS. Also, describing the difficulties that they experience on a daily basis, at home when handling tools, communicating, driving, and at work; and b) developing daily strategies for managing limitations: developing potential daily strategies to overcome daily limitations and/or compensate for them, and seeking professional help.

CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE

Current results provide insight on how symptoms and daily limitations are experienced by a group of women with CTS. These findings could help occupational therapists to understand the day-to-day difficulties and the reasons for developing certain strategies.