The effects of medical evidence and pain intensity on medical student judgments of chronic pain patients

被引:71
作者
Chibnall, JT
Tait, RC
Ross, LR
机构
[1] SSM REHABIL INST,HAZELWOOD,MO 63042
[2] WASHINGTON UNIV,SCH MED,DEPT INTERNAL MED,ST LOUIS,MO 63110
关键词
chronic pain; symptom judgments; medical students;
D O I
10.1023/A:1025504827787
中图分类号
B849 [应用心理学];
学科分类号
040203 ;
摘要
This study examined symptom judgments made by medical students of hypothetical chronic low back pain patients. Eight vignettes were varied as to the pain intensity reported by the hypothetical patient (low vs. moderate vs. high vs. very high) and the availability of medical evidence supportive of the pain report (present vs. absent). Ninety-five subjects read vignettes and made judgments of patient emotional distress, pain intensity, and pain-related disability. Subjects significantly discounted pain level when intensity was high but slightly augmented pain level when intensity was low Judgments of pain and disability were higher for patients for whom medical evidence was present compared to those for whom it was absent. The results support and extend previous research on the effects of situational and patient variables on observer pain judgments. Future research should examine the influence of these biasing variables on the assessment and treatment of chronic pain patients.
引用
收藏
页码:257 / 271
页数:15
相关论文
共 19 条