Online Program

332017
An Analysis of Non-Cancer Chronic Pain Trends amongst Navy Medicine MTF Enrollees


Monday, November 2, 2015

Jaclyn Ellis, PhD, Health Analysis, Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center, Portsmouth, VA
Background: Multiple definitions for chronic pain are currently being used across healthcare systems leading to inconsistent prevalence calculations. Implementing a standard case definition would aid in identifying the appropriate cohort for intervention and in allocating the proper resources to military treatment facilities (MTFs) that currently provide inadequate care to chronic pain patients.  We sought to develop and validate a case definition to identify non-cancer chronic pain prevalence amongst Navy Medicine (NAVMED) MTF enrollees in the US and worldwide, and then to evaluate trends of prevalence during fiscal years 2012 to 2014. Methods: A set of criteria based on the most frequently published chronic pain measures were used to create a case definition, and the definition was validated by a panel of pain specialists.  All beneficiaries 18 years or older meeting at least one criterion for chronic pain were used to evaluate trends of prevalence across each fiscal year.  Findings: Using the validated case definition, the prevalence of chronic pain between men and women was relatively equal each fiscal year.  Adults 65 years and older represented the smallest proportion of enrollees with chronic pain.  Notably, chronic pain among active duty family members was consistently more prevalent in comparison to active duty service members during the years studied.  Implications: Although the higher rate of chronic pain prevalence in active duty family members seems counterintuitive; this finding will help NAVMED focus their resources to the group in the greatest need of a clinical intervention.  Overall, these efforts will lead to better patient outcomes and quality of life.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this abstract are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, nor the U.S. Government

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Chronic disease management and prevention
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate trends of chronic pain prevalence across Navy Medicine by creating and validating a case-definition to identify patients.

Keyword(s): Chronic Disease Management and Care, Epidemiology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an abstract Author on the content because I have been responsible for the data analysis of this work. My scientific interests has been in assessing the influence of environmental factors with chronic pain and kidney disease in multiple ethnic populations.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.