Evaluating Disability-Related Quality of Life in Women With Chronic Pelvic Pain

Abstract

Objectives The primary aim of this study was to describe quality of life (QOL) in women with chronic pelvic pain using the Pain Disability Index (PDI). A secondary goal was to assess the measurement properties and validity of the PDI for this population. Methods This study was a cross-sectional retrospective chart review. In the setting of an outpatient female pelvic pain clinic, we included data from an initial evaluation of patients 16 years and older with chronic pelvic pain (N = 317) from 2012 to 2017. Quality of life was measured using the PDI and previously validated measures for depression and anxiety. Results The mean PDI score across all patients was similar to previously reported means for similar chronic pain populations. Patients experienced the most disability in their sexual activities. The most common cause of chronic pelvic pain was pelvic floor myofascial pain. Common diagnostic categories covered gynecologic, urologic, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and neurological causes. The PDI was unable to discriminate between diagnoses. On average, patients qualified for mild depression and anxiety diagnoses. Results from a confirmatory factor analysis revealed the original factor structure for the PDI fits this population. Conclusions The PDI shows promise as a questionnaire for QOL and could be a valuable clinician tool for tracking QOL in the chronic pelvic pain population. Additional research should be focused on assessing its ability to measure minimum clinically significant change over time.

Pelvic floor myofascial pain in gynecology oncology patients: A pilot study

“…This is not surprising, as one would expect leisure activities and work outside the home to be impacted by one's pain earlier than one's ability to participate in personal hygiene activities. In Ye et al 11 for patients with myofascial pain, the area of the pain disability index with the greatest mean disability was sexual behavior followed by recreation. In our population of gynecology oncology patients, the recreation category had the greatest mean disability followed by sexual behavior.…”

“…This study investigates the impact of PFMP on patient perceived disability using the pain disability index (PDI), a validated screening tool. [8][9][10][11] Additionally we compare the prevalence of PFMP in a gynecology oncology population to literature reported values of PFMP in patients presenting to urogynecology clinic 4 and in patients with pelvic organ prolapse. 12 We hypothesized that the prevalence of pelvic floor myofascial pain in patients presenting to gynecology oncology clinic would be greater than a population of benign gynecology patients presenting to urogynecology clinics.…”

Shoulder pain, shoulder disability, and depression as serial mediators between stress and health-related quality of life among middle-aged women

“…According to previous studies, stress was correlated with pain [ 27 , 28 ], disability [ 29 ], depression [ 30 – 32 ], and quality of life [ 33 ]. Pain was correlated with disability [ 34 , 35 ], depression [ 36 ], and quality of life [ 34 , 37 ]. Disability was correlated with depression and quality of life [ 34 , 37 – 40 ].…”

“…Pain was correlated with disability [34,35], depression [36], and quality of life [34,37]. Disability was correlated with depression and quality of life [34,[37][38][39][40]. Depression is correlated with quality of life [41].…”