LONDON , October 19/PRNewswire/ --

The burden of pain in Britain today remains at a significant level for a substantial proportion of the population despite an increased focus by the NHS on improving patient care, according to the results of the 2005 Pain Survey conducted by the British Pain Society.

Pain was experienced every day or most days by one in five (21%) of the 975 people surveyed - equating to almost 10 million people across Great Britain - and a further one in four (26%) said they had pain some days. A quarter of those surveyed (25%) were in pain on the day of the survey.

Pain directly affected people's quality of life - the proportion of people with pain consequently taking time off work had significantly increased to one in two (49%) compared to only one in three (35%) in a group surveyed in 2002, even though fewer people said they were less physically active as a result of their pain (72% in 2005 compared to 85% in 2002). In addition, half (49%) said that they had been depressed due to the pain, and a quarter (26%) revealed that their sex life had been affected.

"Patients must have their pain taken seriously, the first step being prompt assessment and treatment by their GPs, and then by appropriate specialists if required," said Dr Beverly Collett, President of the British Pain Society and Consultant in Pain Management and Anaesthesia at the University Hospitals of Leicester , UK . "Patients must overcome their reluctance to 'bother their doctor', since healthcare professionals have a variety of therapy options and approaches that allow the effective management of pain."

The results of the 2005 Pain Survey confirmed a similar pattern observed in the previous national survey conducted by the Society in 2002.

Pain was more likely to be reported by older people, with only 13% of 15 to 24 year olds saying they were in pain, compared with 35% of over 65 year olds. Northerners were more likely to be suffering pain than Southerners, with 27% of those in the North saying they were in pain compared with only 22% of those in the South.

Looking at those people who experience pain either daily, most or some days, two-thirds (67%) had visited their GP or NHS Walk-in Centre about their pain but 16% of those with pain had not consulted anybody in the past year. Men were more likely not to have visited anyone about their pain in the last 12 months (20% compared with 14% for women).

"It is encouraging to see that the number of people with pain visiting a pain specialist or pain clinic had increased to 14%, compared to only 7% in 2002," said Dr Collett. "However, there is an on-going need for GPs in the UK to establish better links with their local pain clinics and to refer appropriate patients to these specialists in pain management. In addition to offering patients treatment for their pain, these multidisciplinary pain management services may also offer methods of improving patients' quality of life and their physical and psychological functioning."

The most common causes of pain were back pain (27%), arthritis (24%), headache (16%) and injury (8%). Arthritis was much more common with women (28%) compared to men (19%), whereas the most common cause for men was back pain (29%). Of those experiencing pain on a daily basis, 35% said that the cause of their pain was arthritis and 32% said it was due to back pain.

Notes

The 2005 Pain Survey was conducted by Gfk NOP (formerly NOP World) on behalf of the British Pain Society using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing of 975 people (454 men and 521 women) across Great Britain ( England , Scotland and Wales ). Weighting was applied to the data to bring them in line with national profiles.

The 2005 Pain Survey and press office support was supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited.

Several of the questions asked in the 2005 Pain Survey repeated a similar poll conducted by NOP on behalf of the British Pain Society in 2002, in order to compare how people's experience and treatment of pain had changed.

The British Pain Society is the representative body for all professionals involved in the management and understanding of pain in the United Kingdom . The Society believes that it is the right of every individual who suffers from pain to have access to the appropriate services for the management of their pain.

The Society aims to achieve the highest possible standards in the management of pain. It promotes education, training, research and development in all fields of pain and facilitates the exchange of information and experience. The Society endeavours to increase both professional and public awareness of the prevalence of pain and the facilities that are available for its management.

Source: The British Pain Society

(20/10/05)