Bodily Pain for Persons With and Without Venous Ulcers

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine bodily pain and its effect on functional status, perception of control, coping, and depression for patients with and without venous ulcers receiving care in an urban, primary care clinic for low income adults. Methods: The study used an exploratory, cross sectional design. Participants (N=301) completed demographic, pain severity and pain interference with function, depression, control and coping questionnaires. Seventy patients (23.3%) had venous ulcers and 231 (76.7%) did not. Results: Participants were generally male (53%, n=159), African American (92%, n = 277), and ranged in age 22 to 74 years (M=49.5, SD=8.5). Persons with and without venous ulcers did not differ significantly by gender, race, number of pain sites (n=3.3), or self rated health. Those with leg ulcers were significantly older (M=54 vs. 48 years), had more health problems (M=4.6 vs. 3.1), and had a greater percentage of persons with a disability related to pain (91% vs. 53%). The pain descriptors used by patients with venous ulcers were sharp (89%), nagging (87%), tiring (87%), and throbbing (87%). Patients with leg ulcers reported significantly lower average pain (6.0) than those without leg ulcers (6.6) and greater pain relief (55% vs. 44%). Patients with venous ulcers reported greater control over their pain and greater coping with pain. The two groups did not differ significantly on depression, which was high for both groups, or life control and purpose in life scores. Conclusions: Patients with venous ulcers had lower pain ratings and better control over pain and coping which may relate to better pain management despite having multiple pain sites and disability related to pain. Pain management for indigent patients with and without venous ulcers remains a concern and needs further study. Funding: DMC Scholar Program, 2006-07.