Assessment of chronic pain and access to pain therapy: a cross-sectional population-based study

Chronic pain (CP) has been shown as an important public health problem, and several studies emphasize the need to strengthen the health care and social systems to reduce its marginalization. This study aimed to: evaluate the epidemiology of CP in the general population in an Italian area; and assess the awareness of a specific law, unanimously approved in Parliament, which provides citizens the right to access pain management (Italian Law 38/2010). A cross-sectional population-based study carried out during the spring of 2014 at Narni, Umbria, Italy. All the citizens residing in that area, aged >18, were enrolled in the study. Outcome measures were: prevalence of CP and therapies. The awareness of the Italian Law 38/2010 was also recorded. Data of 1293 questionnaires were analyzed. The prevalence of CP was 28.4%. In 51.5% of cases, pain was severe, with higher prevalence in females (