One in five Italians suffer from chronic pain, but they know little and care in an inadequate way the pain that, for years, grips muscles and joints, the back and the head. 70% of our compatriots would like to know more, especially women and over 55, as revealed by the survey just carried out by Emg Different, whose data will be at the center of the webinar “Chronic pain. Why not resign yourself”, The digital talk of the“ Scelte di Salute ”series promoted by Sandoz. At the event – broadcast online next March 2nd at 5.30 pm on the Adnkronos web channels http://adnk.news/webinar_dolore_cronico and on the Facebook profile page of AdnKronos – will participate in an open discussion: William Raffaeli, doctor, expert in pain therapy, former president of Federdolore and president of the Isal Foundation, Institute for training and research in algological sciences; Nicoletta Orthmann, medical scientific coordinator of the Onda Foundation; Enrica Tornielli, Pharmaceutical Affairs Head of Sandoz Italia.
Chronic pain permanently affects 21.7% of the Italian population, but it is estimated that only about a quarter of Italians (26%) have used drugs to treat it, at least once in a lifetime. Mistaken for a symptom, chronic pain is a pathology recognized by Law 38 of 2010, a rule that places Italy at the forefront from a regulatory point of view. More than ten years after the legislative milestone, however, the majority of Italians (75%) are unaware of the existence of sanctioned rights and of the treatment opportunities available.
However, 86% believe that it is important to have the right not to suffer, so much so that, for almost 90%, the law should be known and promoted as a government priority. (32%). In this context, with only 22% of people informed, it is not surprising that two thirds of Italians ask for more information on chronic pain, as revealed by the survey by Emg Different carried out between 18 and 21 February on a representative sample of the population. Italian (800 people).
The data just collected draw a scenario in which there is a high perception of the existence of chronic pain: 65% of the sample has heard of it and 7% suffers from it or knows relatives or friends who suffer from it. On the subject, friends and colleagues are the main source of information for 40% of respondents, the doctor is for 30%. Internet and national TV establish themselves as the information sources for 17% of the sample, but the web reaches 23% in the population aged 35-54.
The localization of the disease is also clear. Almost 80% of the sample associated osteoarthritis and arthritis with chronic pain, 70% with headache and nerve injury. According to 62% of the sample, oncological disease is also a source of chronic pain, a percentage that rises to 69% in the 18-34 population. It is striking that, for 9%, none of these pathologies are a source of chronic pain.
The general practitioner plays a central role: more than half (53%) of the interviewees indicate him as the person to turn to for treatment, but also for information (50%). Yet, in the case of chronic pain, 14% of the sample would not know who to ask for help, ignoring the possibility of turning to specialists such as the pain therapist. On the therapy front, a great deal of uncertainty emerges. In the five years that may elapse between the onset of the first symptoms and the diagnosis of chronic pain, anti-inflammatories are considered the most suitable treatment (29%) together with physical therapies such as ultrasounds and lasers (20%). 39% of the sample would not know what to take, while 10% would take opiate-based drugs. Regarding therapies, doubts and perplexities remain about opioid analgesics, indicated for this type of pain, but there is no foreclosure: 29% would accept the prescription and 62% would ask for clarification. One more reason to participate in the webinar “Chronic Pain. Why not give up ”, next March 2nd at 5.30 pm online on the Adnkronos web channels http://adnk.news/webinar_dolore_cronico and on the AdnKronos Facebook profile page.
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