Affiliation:
1. Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health Texas A&M University College Station Texas USA
2. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Heath University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan USA
3. Office of the Director National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Washington District of Columbia USA
4. Department of Global and Community Health, College of Public Health George Mason University Fairfax Virginia USA
5. Department of Occupational & Environmental Safety & Health University of Wisconsin – Whitewater Whitewater Wisconsin USA
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundU.S. construction workers experience high rates of injury that can lead to chronic pain. This pilot study examined nonpharmacological (without medication prescribed by healthcare provider) and pharmacological (e.g., prescription opioids) pain management approaches used by construction workers.MethodsA convenience sample of U.S. construction workers was surveyed, in partnership with the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Construction Sector Program. Differences in familiarity and use of nonpharmacological and pharmacological pain management approaches, by demographics, were assessed using logistic regression models. A boosted regression tree model examined the most influential factors related to pharmacological pain management use, and potential reductions in use were counterfactually modeled.ResultsOf 166 (85%) of 195 participants reporting pain/discomfort in the last year, 72% reported using pharmacological pain management approaches, including 19% using opioids. There were significant differences in familiarity with nonpharmacological approaches by gender, education, work experience, and job title. Among 37 factors that predicted using pharmacological and non‐pharmacological pain management approaches, training on the risks of opioids, job benefits for unpaid leave and paid disability, and familiarity with music therapy, meditation or mindful breathing, and body scans were among the most important predictors of potentially reducing use of pharmacological approaches. Providing these nonpharmacological approaches to workers could result in an estimated 23% (95% CI: 16%–30%) reduction in pharmacological pain management approaches.ConclusionThis pilot study suggests specific factors related to training, job benefits, and worker familiarity with nonpharmacological pain management approaches influence use of these approaches.
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