Table 2.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on chronic pain-relevant outcomes and behaviors aimed at reducing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus (N = 480).
| n (%) | Change categories | Percent of change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pandemic impact on chronic pain-relevant outcomes | |||
| Due to the pandemic, pain on average (past month) | |||
| Very much increased | 48 (10.0) | Worse | 53.8 |
| Much increased | 86 (17.9) | ||
| Minimally increased | 124 (25.8) | ||
| Not changed | 198 (41.3) | No change | 41.3 |
| Minimally decreased | 16 (3.3) | Improved | 5.0 |
| Much decreased | 5 (1.0) | ||
| Very much decreased | 3 (0.6) | ||
| Due to the pandemic, general activity (past month) | |||
| Very much worse | 68 (14.2) | Worse | 68.1 |
| Much worse | 138 (28.8) | ||
| Minimally worse | 120 (25.1) | ||
| Not changed | 114 (23.8) | No change | 23.8 |
| Minimally improved | 26 (5.4) | Improved | 8.1 |
| Much improved | 10 (2.1) | ||
| Very much improved | 3 (0.6) | ||
| Due to the pandemic, enjoyment of life (past month) | |||
| Very much worse | 61 (12.8) | Worse | 74.6 |
| Much worse | 130 (27.3) | ||
| Minimally worse | 165 (34.6) | ||
| Not changed | 92 (19.3) | No change | 19.3 |
| Minimally improved | 21 (4.4) | Improved | 6.1 |
| Much improved | 6 (1.3) | ||
| Very much improved | 2 (0.4) | ||
| Due to the pandemic, ability to cope with pain (past month) | |||
| Very much worse | 25 (5.2) | Worse | 49.7 |
| Much worse | 80 (16.7) | ||
| Minimally worse | 133 (27.8) | ||
| Not changed | 215 (44.9) | No change | 44.7 |
| Minimally improved | 17 (3.6) | Improved | 5.4 |
| Much improved | 7 (1.5) | ||
| Very much improved | 2 (0.4) | ||
| Due to the pandemic, mental health, including stress, anxiety or depression symptoms (past month) | |||
| Very much worse | 64 (13.4) | Worse | 74.4 |
| Much worse | 96 (20.0) | ||
| Minimally worse | 197 (41.1) | ||
| Not changed | 101 (21.1) | No change | 21.1 |
| Minimally improved | 13 (2.7) | Improved | 4.4 |
| Much improved | 6 (1.3) | ||
| Very much improved | 2 (0.4) | ||
| Due to the pandemic, use of prescribed opioid medications (past month)* | |||
| Very much increased | 6 (1.4) | Increased | 19.4 |
| Much increased | 20 (4.6) | ||
| Minimally increased | 58 (13.4) | ||
| Not changed | 333 (76.9) | Neutral | 76.9 |
| Minimally decreased | 11 (2.5) | Decreased | 3.7 |
| Much decreased | 3 (0.7) | ||
| Very much decreased | 2 (0.5) | ||
| Due to the pandemic, access to prescribed opioid medications (past month)* | |||
| Very much decreased | 4 (0.9) | Worse | 11.3 |
| Much decreased | 7 (1.6) | ||
| Minimally decreased | 38 (8.8) | ||
| Not changed | 362 (83.4) | Neutral | 83.4 |
| Minimally increased | 10 (2.3) | Improved | 5.3 |
| Much increased | 10 (2.3) | ||
| Very much increased | 3 (0.7) | ||
| Due to the pandemic, access to healthcare (including regular healthcare provider and specialty treatments) | |||
| Very much worse | 45 (9.4) | Worse | 61.6 |
| Much worse | 96 (20.1) | ||
| Minimally worse | 153 (32.0) | ||
| Not changed | 155 (32.4) | No change | 32.3 |
| Minimally improved | 17 (3.6) | Improved | 6.1 |
| Much improved | 10 (2.1) | ||
| Very much improved | 2 (0.4) | ||
| Due to the pandemic, financial situation (including income, savings, ability to pay bills, etc.) | |||
| Very much worse | 49 (10.3) | Worse | 45.3 |
| Much worse | 65 (13.7) | ||
| Minimally worse | 104 (21.9) | ||
| Not changed | 225 (47.3) | No change | 47.0 |
| Minimally improved | 25 (5.3) | Improved | 6.9 |
| Much improved | 2 (0.4) | ||
| Very much improved | 6 (1.3) | ||
| Due to the pandemic, ability to meet basic needs (including housing, food, essential supplies, etc.) | |||
| Very much worse | 21 (4.4) | Worse | 42.6 |
| Much worse | 52 (10.9) | ||
| Minimally worse | 132 (27.6) | ||
| Not changed | 255 (53.2) | No change | 53.2 |
| Minimally improved | 14 (2.9) | Improved | 4.0 |
| Much improved | 3 (0.6) | ||
| Very much improved | 2 (0.4) | ||
| Due to the pandemic, life overall | |||
| Very negatively overall | 113 (23.8) | Worse | 84.8 |
| Somewhat negatively overall | 163 (34.3) | ||
| A little bit negatively overall | 131 (27.6) | ||
| Not impacted overall | 52 (11.0) | No change | 10.9 |
| A little bit positively overall | 8 (1.7) | Improved | 3.3 |
| Somewhat positively overall | 6 (1.3) | ||
| Very positively overall | 2 (0.4) | ||
| Pandemic impact on practice of public health recommendations to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus | |||
| Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in a public place, or after blowing nose, coughing, or sneezing | |||
| Never | 1 (0.2) | Never-rarely | 0.4 |
| Rarely | 1 (0.2) | ||
| Some of the time | 28 (5.9) | Some of the time | 5.9 |
| Most of the time | 117 (24.5) | Most or all the time | 93.7 |
| All of the time | 330 (69.2) | ||
| Wear a cloth face cover (facemask) when out in public | |||
| Never | 4 (0.9) | Never-rarely | 2.8 |
| Rarely | 9 (1.9) | ||
| Some of the time | 25 (5.3) | Some of the time | 8.1 |
| Most of the time | 71 (15.2) | Most or all the time | 91.9 |
| All of the time | 359 (76.7) | ||
| Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands | |||
| Never | 5 (1.1) | Never-rarely | 5.1 |
| Rarely | 19 (4.1) | ||
| Some of the time | 62 (13.2) | Some of the time | 13.1 |
| Most of the time | 182 (38.8) | Most or all the time | 81.7 |
| All of the time | 201 (42.9) | ||
| Cover mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing or use the inside of the elbow | |||
| Never | 0 (0.0) | Never-rarely | 1.5 |
| Rarely | 7 (1.5) | ||
| Some of the time | 12 (2.6) | Some of the time | 2.6 |
| Most of the time | 70 (15.2) | Most or all the time | 95.9 |
| All of the time | 373 (80.7) | ||
| Stay at home when feeling unwell | |||
| Never | 0 (0.0) | Never-rarely | 0.2 |
| Rarely | 1 (0.2) | ||
| Some of the time | 12 (2.7) | Some of the time | 2.7 |
| Most of the time | 54 (12.2) | Most or all the time | 97.1 |
| All of the time | 377 (84.9) | ||
| Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people when out of home | |||
| Never | 1 (0.2) | Never-rarely | 0.8 |
| Rarely | 3 (0.6) | ||
| Some of the time | 28 (6.0) | Some of the time | 6.0 |
| Most of the time | 134 (28.6) | Most or all the time | 93.2 |
| All of the time | 303 (64.6) | ||
| Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gathering | |||
| Never | 0 (0.0) | Never-rarely | 0.8 |
| Rarely | 4 (0.9) | ||
| Some of the time | 19 (4.1) | Some of the time | 4.1 |
| Most of the time | 82 (17.7) | Most or all the time | 95.0 |
| All of the time | 358 (77.3) | ||
*
Percentages calculated for 435 people (90.6% of the sample) who reported current treatment with opioid medications; of note, 42 people responded they were not currently treated with opioids, and 3 people did not provide an answer to this question.