The Relationship Between Pain Beliefs and Coping with Pain of Algology Patients'

Abstract

A patient's beliefs, expectations, and attitudes about coping with pain are effective on the patient's pain control. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the correlation between pain beliefs and coping with pain in algology patients. This descriptive study was carried out with 201 patients at a University Hospital Algology Clinic between May and July 2014. The research instruments used included a Descriptive Characteristics Data Form, Pain Beliefs Questionnaire, and Pain Coping Questionnaire. Data were evaluated by descriptive statistical methods, Spearman's correlation, and the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests. According to the findings, the duration of pain in the patients ranged from 1 month to 40 years, with a mean duration of 68.37 ± 89.42 months. Patients' organic beliefs mean score was 3.97 ± 0.78 and the psychological beliefs mean score was 5.01 ± 1.01. There was a significant negative correlation between patients' organic beliefs score and the self-management (p < .001, r = −.388) and conscious cognitive interventions scores (p < .001, r = −.331); with the helplessness score (p < .001, r = .365) there was a positive correlation. There was also a positive correlation between patients' psychological beliefs score and self-management score (p < .05, r = .162). Moreover, there is significant difference between organic beliefs score and patients who use opioid analgesic. Patients who believe that their pain's origin is a organic cause, such as damage and harm in the body, cannot cope with pain and feel more helplessness. Appropriate nursing interventions for individuals' pain beliefs should be implemented to nursing care plans on pain management.