Table 3.

List of Demographics for Our Rural Chronic Non-Cancer Pain Patients: Differences Between the Intervention and Original Control Group before Intervention (n = 186)

Demographic VariableIntervention (n = 93)Control (n = 93)P valueDiscussion
Gender*
Females (%)51 (54.8)51 (54.8)1.00
Smoker* (%)63 (67.7)48 (51.6)0.04More smokers in intervention group
Use of Benzodiazepine before intervention* (%)23 (24.7)38 (40.9)0.03More Benzo. use in the control group before intervention
Use of Carisoprodol* (%)3 (3.2)4 (4.3)1.00
Positive substance abuse history* (%)36 (38.7)9 (9.7)0.00More substance abuse dx in the intervention group
Age(%)0.9
    18 to 294 (4.3)4 (4.3)
    30 to 3915 (16.1)13 (14)
    40 to 4921 (22.6)28 (30.1)
    50 to 5932 (34.4)21 (22.6)
    60–6912 (12.9)18 (19.4)
    70–799 (9.7)7 (7.5)
    80 to 8902 (2.2)
Insurance type§ (%)0.89
    Uninsured6 (6.5)4 (4.3)
    Veterans1 (1.1)1 (1.1)
    Medicare29 (31.2)35 (37.6)
    Medicaid32 (34.4)30 (32.3)
    Private25 (26.9)23 (24.7)
Psychiatric diagnose§ (%)0.03More generalized anxiety in the control group; more PTSD in the experimental group
    None27 (29)23 (24.7)
    Depression40 (43)39 (41.9)
    Anxiety d/o11 (11.8)26 (28)
    Bipolar3 (3.2)2 (2.2)
    PTSD11 (11.8)3 (3.2)
    Schizophrenia1 (1.1)0
Type of pain§ (%)0.00More patients with cervical/lumbar radiculopathy in the intervention group
    Migraine4 (4.3)6 (6.5)
    Osteoarthritis32 (34.4)41 (44.1)
    Rheumatoid Arthritis1 (1.1)4 (4.3)
    Cervical/lumbar Radic.30 (32.3)5 (5.4)
    Diabetic Neuropathy3 (3.2)4 (4.3)
    Fibromyalgia8 (8.6)11 (11.8)
    Somatic dysfunction8 (8.6)11 (11.8)
    GI/pelvic pain7 (7.5)11 (11.8)
Type of opioid§0.24
    T #35 (5.4)1 (1.1)
    Tramadol7 (7.5)9 (9.7)
    Hydrocodone53 (57)53 (57)
    Morphine8 (8.6)3 (3.2)
    Oxycodone10 (10.8)15 (16.1)
    Fentanyl4 (4.3)8 (8.6)
    Methadone6 (6.5)4 (4.3)
MME strata and number of patients at each strata (%)0.94
    <203 (3.2)3 (3.2)
    20 to 4943 (46.2)43 (46.2)
    50–9929 (31.2)30 (32.3)
    100 to 1494 (4.3)4 (4.3)
    150 – 1994 (4.3)4 (4.3)
    200 to 2493 (3.2)3 (3.2)
    250 to 2991 (1.1)2 (2.2)
    300 to 3495 (5.4)1 (1.1)
    350 to 39901 (1.1)
    400 to 4491 (1.1)2 (2.2)
  • * Fisher's exact test.

  • Mann-Whitney U.

  • § Chi-Squared.

  • Differences may reflect diagnostic attention rather than true prevalence.

  • Methadone for pain not opioid use disorder.

  • PTSD, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder; GI, gastrointestinal; MME, Morphine Milligram Equivalents.