Coping Strategies with Pain Among Older People (Pain)

An Analysis of Factors Associated with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain, Pain Management Preferences, Coping Strategies and Health-related Quality of Life Among Older People: a Comparative Cross-Cultural Study of Turkey, Croatia and Romania

Chronic musculoskeletal pain is common among older adults. This study aimed to identify and describe the characteristics of chronic musculoskeletal pain, pain management and coping strategies among older adults from Turkey, Croatia and Romania. The study also aimed to explore cultural differences in pain experience and management.

Methods:

337 older adults with chronic pain participate 100 from Turkey, 131 from Croatia and 106 from Romania. Semi-structured interviews will explore four main topics, including factors influencing pain, coping strategies, management strategies, and health-related quality of life.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Romania group; Other: Turkey Group; Other: Croatia Group

Detailed Description

The questionnaire which was prepared by researchers will be performed by older adults. The sociodemographic characteristics are recorded to part A section of questionnaire. The pain assessment section is part B and evaluate pain localization, intensity, type, factors affecting the pain, coping and management strategies of pain. Health related outcomes will be evaluated with CDC (Center of Disease Control and Prevention) Health related Quality of Life-4 Questionnaire

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 336

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Istanbul, Turkey, 34010
    • Biruni University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Geriatrics

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• women and men aged between 65-85 years
• living in their own homes or in a nursing home
• older adults with chronic pain for at least 6 months,
• independent in activities of daily living, and independent in walking (with or without assistive walking devices).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Elderly adults with communication problems

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Romania Group; The structured questionnaire was performed by older adults from Romania	Other: Romania group; The questionnaire which was prepared by researchers will be performed by older adults from Romania. The sociodemographic characteristics are recorded to part A section of questionnaire. The pain assessment section is part B and evaluate pain localization, intensity, type, factors affecting the pain, coping and management strategies of pain. Health related outcomes will be evaluated with CDC (Center of Disease Control and Prevention) Health related Quality of Life-4 Questionnaire
Turkey Group; The structured questionnaire was performed by older adults from Turkey	Other: Turkey Group; The questionnaire which was prepared by researchers will be performed by older adults from Turkey The sociodemographic characteristics are recorded to part A section of questionnaire. The pain assessment section is part B and evaluate pain localization, intensity, type, factors affecting the pain, coping and management strategies of pain. Health related outcomes will be evaluated with CDC (Center of Disease Control and Prevention) Health related Quality of Life-4 Questionnaire
Croatia Group; The structured questionnaire was performed by older adults from Croatia	Other: Croatia Group; The questionnaire which was prepared by researchers will be performed by older adults from Croatia. The sociodemographic characteristics are recorded to part A section of questionnaire. The pain assessment section is part B and evaluate pain localization, intensity, type, factors affecting the pain, coping and management strategies of pain. Health related outcomes will be evaluated with CDC (Center of Disease Control and Prevention) Health related Quality of Life-4 Questionnaire

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
A semi-structure questionnaire	Four main themes were identified: (i) the factors affecting pain such as increasing and decreasing factors in ageing; (ii) the coping strategies with pain in ageing; (iii) the management strategies in ageing; (iv) the health related quality of life related pain in ageing	1 week
Visuel analog scale	The VAS is a tool for measuring subjective experiences like pain, discomfort, or other sensations, commonly used with older adults in clinical settings. It helps assess pain intensity, especially in those with communication challenges due to cognitive decline or sensory impairment. VAS is useful for evaluating pain severity in conditions like osteoarthritis, neuropathy, post-surgical pain, and cancer-related pain In this study, participants will rate their pain on an 11-point scale, from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable). Scores were categorized as severe (7-10), moderate (4-6,9), mild (1-3,9), or no pain (0)	1 week

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
CDC Health related Quality of Life-4	develop to assess a person s sense of well-being through four questions. A core set of these measures (the CDC HRQOL-4) asks about self-rated general health and the number of recent days when a person is physically unhealthy, mentally unhealthy, or limited in usual activities.	1 week

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Biruni University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 10, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 20, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 11, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 16, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 16, 2024
• Last Verified: December 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Aged; Health-Related Quality of Life; Coping Strategy
• Other Study ID Numbers: Coping strategies; Biruni U (Registry Identifier: Coping strategies with pain)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No