Current status of pain and its influencing factors in patients with chronic wounds: a cross-sectional survey

To investigate the status of pain and influencing factors of patients with chronic wounds.

A convenience sampling was used to recruit 186 patients with chronic wounds from a tertiary hospital in Chongqing between January and August 2024. General information questionnaire, Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and Chronic Wound Pain Status Questionnaire were used to collect data.

The 186 patients had a median score for pain knowledge of 15 (12, 19), for pain attitude of 40 (37, 45), and for coping behaviors of 21 (16, 26). Generalized linear model analysis showed that age, education level, and per capita monthly household income were independent factors influencing pain knowledge (standardized regression coefficients:-1.625, 2.071, 1.209; 95%CI: -2.479~-0.770, 1.431~2.711, 0.160~2.258, respectively; P<0.05). Education level and baseline pain intensity were independent factors influencing pain attitude (standardized regression coefficients:3.036, -2.211; 95%CI: 2.146~3.926, -3.568~-0.854; P<0.05). Education level and type of pain persistence were independent factors influencing coping behaviors to pain (standardized regression coefficients:1.001, -1.694; 95%CI: 0.194~1.809, -3.262~-0.126; P<0.05).

Patients with chronic wounds have generally low levels of pain-related knowledge, attitudes, and coping behaviors.Age, per capita monthly household income, education level, and pain characteristics significantly influence their pain status. Education level plays a key role in influencing pain among patients with chronic wounds by shaping their access to pain-related knowledge, development of their attitudes toward pain, and execution of pain management behaviors.