The Interaction Between Pain Intensity and Pain Self-Efficacy in Work Functioning Impairment: A Cross-Sectional Study in Japanese Construction Workers.

Abstract

To examine the pain intensity and pain self-efficacy interaction in workers' work functioning impairment. A cross-sectional study using a self-reporting survey. Of 6657 Japanese construction company employees, 5129 (77.0%) valid responses were analyzed for work functioning impairment. Further analysis using current pain intensity and pain self-efficacy was performed on 1622 employees who experienced physical pain in the past 12 months. Pain intensity showed a dose-response relationship with work functioning impairment. Further analysis showed an interaction between pain intensity and pain self-efficacy for work functioning impairment. Stratification by pain self-efficacy showed that high pain self-efficacy was not associated with an increase in work functioning impairment, even in those with severe pain (odds ratio = 1.79; 95% confidence interval = 0.69 to 4.68). Pain self-efficacy may be a key determinant for work functioning impairment in workers with pain.