Quality of life and chronic nonmalignant pain

Chronic nonmalignant pain is a prevalent and costly phenomenon. Chronic pain induces stressors that affect personal and work lives of sufferers. Because of this interference, quality of life is impacted. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the impact of stressors on the quality of life of adult patients with chronic pain. The framework guiding this study was Neuman's Systems Model based on the concepts of stress and reaction to stress. A descriptive correlational research design was used to compare participants' quality of life according to their health and function; family, psychological, spiritual, and socioeconomic status; and the stressors of age, gender, income, marital and work status, occupation, monthly treatment costs, and type of insurance. Each participant was administered the Ferrans and Powers Quality-of-Life Index and a demographic survey. Results revealed that a higher quality of life was associated with participants who were older, female, and employed, whereas a lower quality of life was associated with participants with a low income, higher treatment costs, and a lack of workmen's compensation insurance. Based on Neuman's model, the implications of chronic pain sufferers' resistance to the negative impact of various stressors are discussed. © 2001 by the American Society of Pain Management Nurses