Pain, mental health, and health care utilization of military Veterans compared to civilians in a chronic pain clinic

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to identify differences in the biopsychosocial characteristics and health care utilization between Veterans and adult civilians with chronic pain seeking care at an interprofessional chronic pain clinic. Methods: Patient-reported data was extracted from the Kingston Health Sciences Centre Chronic Pain Registry between November 2017 and October 2019 (N = 1,090). Veterans were identified (n = 47) and age/sex-matched with randomly selected adult civilians (n = 94). Descriptive and comparative statistics were assessed for socio-demographics, biopsychosocial measures (pain severity, pain catastrophizing, fear of movement, suicidal ideation, depression, quality of life), and health care utilization in the year preceding enrollment into an interprofessional chronic pain clinic. Results: Veterans were predominantly male with a mean age of 57 ± 14 and reported more suicidal ideation compared to age/sex matched civilians (23% vs. 8.6%). There were no differences in the biopsychosocial measures found between groups. Veterans reported seeking more community chiropractor, massage therapist, physiotherapist, and psychologist care as compared to civilians. Discussion: This descriptive study included Veteran and civilian populations matched by age and sex to gain a better understanding of any differences in chronic pain presentations between these two populations at the time of admission to a chronic pain clinic. Although Veterans reported a heavier utilization of community-based health care, this population presents similar biopsychosocial characteristics, but higher suicidal ideation, than the civilian population. Findings highlight the importance for chronic pain clinics to offer tailored pain management programs for Veterans.