A comparison of chronic pain with and without neuropathic characteristics in a Hong Kong Chinese population: An analysis of pain related outcomes and patient help seeking behaviour

OBJECTIVE: In Western countries, chronic pain patients with neuropathic characteristics have more intense pain, greater negative impact in quality of life and worse psychological well-being. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes, impact, and health seeking behaviours in Chinese chronic pain patients with and without neuropathic characteristics in Hong Kong. METHODS: Random telephone survey was conducted on the general Hong Kong population, and based on the Nuprin Pain Report. Specific questions on chronic and neuropathic pain were included. Respondents with pain lasting three months or more were asked to indicate their two most painful sites. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U-test were used to investigate differences between variables in patients with and without neuropathic characteristics. P<0.05 was regarded as significant. RESULTS: The response rate was 32.3%. Chronic pain patients with neuropathic characteristics reported higher pain scores and longer duration of pain (p = 0.0001). They reported greater negative impact on work and effect on daily life (p = 0.0131); were significantly more likely to consult pain specialists (p = 0.0006), Chinese medicine practitioners (p = 0.0203), and psychiatrists (p = 0.0212); and were significantly less likely to be prescribed oral analgesics (p = 0.0226), to feel ‘very satisfied’ (p = 0.0263) with prescribed treatment and to find oral analgesics ‘very useful’ (p = 0.0215). There was no difference in oral analgesic medications taken. CONCLUSION: Chinese individuals having chronic pain with neuropathic characteristics had worse pain related outcomes. Differences in help-seeking behaviour were observed. Lack of appropriate analgesic prescription suggests that identification and management of chronic neuropathic pain in Hong Kong needs to be improved.