Table 2: Correlation between age and readiness to change

Table 1: T-test relating gender and readiness to change

It is estimated that 25% of children experience chronic pain (Kashikar-Zuck, et al., 2001).

Due to this high prevalence, it is important to understand what characteristics adolescents may have that translate to their readiness for treatment to begin and how ready they are to implement self management techniques into their normal routine (Guite, et al., 2011).

A higher level of motivation and commitment to treatment could potentially lead to better pain management (Guite, et al.,2011)

Considering highest score for each patient, the majority of youth fall into the Precontemplation stage.

Adolescents in this sample rated items on the Precontemplation scale slightly higher than items on the Contemplation scale, while items on the Action/Maintenance scale were rated lowest.

There is a positive correlation between scores on the contemplation stage and the age of the adolescent.

Furthermore, it appears that female adolescents score higher on Contemplation than males.

Although many adolescents still endorse higher scores on the Precontemplation scale, the results from this study may indicate that as children get older they become more aware that they have some ability to control their pain and are considering change in their behavior.

Although adolescents may be aware of their ability to manage their pain, they might not be ready to change their behavior and that should then be a main treatment goal.

The results from this study can help better understand whether children are taking on some responsibility for the management of their pain or relying on physicians.

Correspondence for this project: Tiffany Feller tmfeller@uwm.edu

The purpose of this study was to examine if a child’s age and gender are related to greater readiness to adopt a self management approach to pain (ie. readiness to change).

Participants N=174 Ethnicity: 78% Caucasian Gender: 66% Female, 34% Male Age: 12 to 18 years, (M=15.2, SD=1.52)Measures Participants were recruited from a large

multidisciplinary pain clinic at a large Midwestern hospital who were there for the treatment of complex chronic pain. Recruitment took place at the patient’s intake appointment.

Patients and their parents were asked to independently complete the Pain Stages of Change Questionnaire-Adolescent Form (PSOCQ-A) prior to their intake appointment. This measure examines whether participants are ready to adopt a self management approach to the management of their pain (Guite, et al., 2011).

Participants are asked to rate statements 1 through 5 (1 being strongly disagree and 5 being strongly agree) to understand how likely they are to use self management approaches to pain.

INTRODUCTION

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

METHODS

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

DATA ANALYSIS

Stages Correlation P Value

Precontemplation r= -.01 p=.92

Contemplation r= .18 p= .02

Action/Maintenance r= .04 p=.65

Participants received a score for each readiness to change stage.

For the purpose of this study the Action and Maintenance stages of change were combined.

Gender differences across stages of readiness to change are shown in Table 1.

Correlations between age and readiness to change are shown in Table 2.

Stage Gender P Value

Descriptive Statistics (Female)

Descriptive Statistics (Male)

Precontemplation t = -.71, p=.48 M= 3.62 SD = .87 M= 3.52 SD = .91

Contemplation t = -2.18 p=.03 M =3.34 SD = .68 M = 3.10 SD = .67

Action/Maintenance t = .01 p=.99 M= 2.82 SD = .72 M = 2.82 SD = .85

RESULTS CONTINUED

Percentages of adolescents who scored highest in each stage are:

Precontemplation: 62.8%

Contemplation: 19.5 %

Action/Maintenance: 17.7%

The sample’s average scores on the scales of the PSOCQ-A were: Precontemplation (M = 3.59, SD = 0.88), Contemplation (M = 3.26, SD = 0.68), and Action/Maintenance (M = 2.82, SD = 0.77).

There was a significant difference between males and females’ scores on Contemplation t(156)= -2.18, p=.03; with females scoring higher than males (M = 3.34 ± .68 vs. M = 3.10, ± .67, respectively).

There was a significant correlation between age and scores on the Contemplation subscale r=.18, p=.02.

Stage Definition Example Question

Precontemplation Very little perceived responsibility and no interest in behavior change

“My pain is a medical problem and I should be dealing with medical doctors about it.”

Contemplation Conscious of their responsibility for pain control and contemplating behavior change

“I have recently figured out that it’s up to me to deal better with my pain.”

Action Being involved in learning self managing strategies

“I am learning ways to control my pain other than with medicines or surgery.”

Maintenance Understands their responsibility in managing their pain and are applying self managing strategies in their lives.

“I use what I have learned to help keep my pain under control” (Guite, et al., 2011).

ReferencesGuite, J. W., Logan, D. E., Simons, L. E., Blood, E. A., & Kerns, R. D.

(2011). Readiness to change in pediatric chronic pain: initial validation of adolescent and parent versions of the Pain Stages of Change Questionnaire. Pain, 152(10), 2301-2311. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2011.06.019

Kashikar-Zuck, S., Goldschneider, K. R., Powers, S. W., Vaught, M. H., & Hershey, A. D. (2001). Depression and functional disability in chronic pediatric pain. Clin J Pain, 17(4), 341-349.